José — page 296: what you’re looking at

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

JOSE. 289 motive at a glance, and hardly had the door closed when he took both the young girl’s hands in his. “Mary,” he said, tenderly, “a person does not usually beat his way for a thousand miles through dangers and privations, on at last finding what he has yearningly sought for, to stop at half-uttered words. J have enjoyed no rest since the day you disappeared in Vicksburg; but your two letters be- came my prayer-book, and followed me through every danger; I have regarded the chance which led me to find your bracelet on the prairie a hint from Heaven. Now, then, answer me frankly, ‘Marv, have I been a fool for reading between the lines of your last letter and nursed a hope which caused me to follow you without a thought of rest? Can it be true that you have no intention other than to seek an engagement in the Kast?” She cast up her eyes with a look in which were apparently reflected a multitude of conflicting emo- tions. “Why, Henry, we have barely become ac- quainted,” she said, in a tremulous, almost prayerful tone of voice. “Barely acquainted, Mary?” he cried, with a sud- den, happy peal of laughter, pressing her hands tighter; “have I not held communion with the only picture that lived in my soul; have I not made it familiar with everything I am, until there is not a corner in my heart that I have not revealed to it? Mary, have you never thought of me? Only tell me that!” He kneeled down at the side of her chair, and in this position gazed up into her lowered face, at those eyes that suddenly filled with tears. “Mary,” he cried, half frightened. Gomicbooks (E(0)