José — page 149: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

142 JOSE. moned to the girl’s face the passing shadow of an inner pang. One morning Mary found a splendid new lady’s saddle in the stable, and a bridle ornamented Mexi- can fashion with’ silver buttons. For a moment surprise made her waver. The next, however, she demanded the old trappings of McAllister, which she knew so well how to adjust, then proceeded to place these on the pony’s back with evident satis- faction. At dinner, McGregor watched her, shaking his head in silent regret and uttering never a word. Brown appeared to pay as little attention to the relationship existing between the young couple, as Mary favored him with any consideration on her part. He was completely absorbed in calculations and surveying. Whenever he inserted a word in the flow of the conversation at the table, it was strictly on the most matter-of-fact topics, or in re- gard to some undiscovered resources of the future settlement. To the casual observer, matters at the fort bore the stamp of harmony and peace. If there was one person who made furtive observations and was otherwise impressed, that person was Hattie, the venerable housekepeer, who, during frequent visits to Mary’s room, found the young lady seated in her easy chair, languid and faint. She had seen her exert heraelf to appear natural. Thus two weeks elapsed after the arrival of Mc- Gregor and his guests. It was the first morning since Mary had made her home in the fort that the sky did not wear its usually clear aspect. A thin fog, which had changed the bright azure into a light gray, was enveloping valley and forest. The change of weather made Eomicbooks.co