Grapes of Thorns; A Novel (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1917. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVI A WAY OF THORNS THERE are days, nay, hours, that do the work of years, and the two weeks that followed Marjorie's home-coming seemed a period beyond all her reckoning. The long, sad hours dragged, leadenweighted, broken-winged. Madam Marchand was colder and less approachable than ever before. Papa Perot was in the city, where, as executor of the great Carmichael estate, a thousand affairs claimed his attention. With returning strength poor Vera grew more fretful and exacting, while her querulous impatience at her husband's absence tore cruelly at the bleeding wound in Marjorie's heart. Old Tante Lise, creeping, bent and withered, about the gloomy house, seemed its only friendly presence. The bright, sunken eyes followed Marjorie with pitying interest. "Honey, chile, yo'se gettin' pale and peaked and puny. Dis hyah bad luck house ain't no fit place fo' yo'. Yo' git out o' it, chile, git out o' it quick ez yo' kin; get back wif de young folks into de sunshine." "Oh, I can't leave poor Mama, Tante Lise." "Why can't yo'?" asked the old woman irritably. "Ain't her ma hyah; ain't I hyah, chile, to look out fo' her? Yo' ain't got to stay hyah, but I hez. I hez to wait and to watch. It's time fo' ol' Lise to go, honey, but she can't, she can't She got to stay and b'ar witness." "Bear witness to what, Tante Lise?" Marjorie asked listlessly. "I ain't tellin', honey, I ain't tellin' yet; de time ain't come. Yo'se a prayin' Christian, Miss Marjorie. I'se seen yo' down on your knees ebbery night. Yo' believes dar's a Great Master dat hears what yo' say." "Oh, yes, yes, Tante Lise," was the tremulous reply. "He hears, I know." "Pray, den, honey, keep on prayin' bes' yo' kin. Pray dat He'll make de dark ways plain and de crooked ways straight like I heern d...