Woman As She Should Be - or, Agnes Wiltshire by Mary E. Herbert
page 45 of 113 (39%)
page 45 of 113 (39%)
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"Forgive me, dear sister," he said, in a tone of mingled anger and grief, "that I have destroyed that =precious= manuscript," laying an emphasis on the word precious; "but oh, Ella, Ella, is it possible that such fearful intelligence can be true? It almost seems," he added, in a tone of anguish and despair, "that heaven could not permit one so young, so lovely, to perish in such a heart-rending manner,"--he stopped abruptly,--and Ella was spared replying by a gentle tap at the door. "Come in," she said in a low, faint voice, and, in compliance with the invitation, an elderly American lady, who was on a visit to some friends that resided opposite, and with whom Ella had become quite intimate during her sojourn in the place, entered the apartment. "I have been wanting so much to see you, my dear child," she said, affectionately, "and have been looking for you all the morning, and finding you did not make your appearance, concluded to come in search of you. But what is the matter," said she, pausing, and glancing first at Ella, and then at her brother, "I trust you have not heard any bad news?" "We have, indeed, dear Madam," replied Arthur, with an effort to control his voice, "the loss of a very dear friend,"--here the tones visibly faltered,--"by the burning of a vessel at sea, and the subsequent upsetting of a boat, in which some of the passengers were endeavoring to make their escape." "That is indeed very, very sad news," said the old lady, affectionately clasping Ella's hand, "and I, my friends, can sympathize with you, for five years ago to-day, my son, my darling son, the pride of my heart, |
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