José — page 298: what you’re looking at

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

JOSE. 291 _ His words were here interrupted by the sud- den opening of the side door, and there, on the casement, encircled by Mary’s arm, stood a grace- ful, pretty woman, shrinking from their sight, her tear-bathed face wreathed in a bashful smile. “Why, there she is! On my soul!” cried the hunter, “and Heaven be thanked, back in skirts!” He took a step forward, then seized hold of Green, who with a look of transport not without a mingling of pain, stood speechless, gazing at the sudden ap- parition. | “Now then, put on a bold front,” continued the hunter. “She has completely changed. She is tired of masquerading in boy’s clothes—eh, Pepita?” Pepita, however, appeared not to have heard him. Her gaze was riveted upon the eloquent features of Green’s face, and when the latter took a step as to approach her, she erected herself boldly in Mary’s arm, met him, and with both hands took hold of his uninjured right. “T know that I am precipitating myself into fresh misfortunes,” she said, with a passionate trembling of the voice, “by not fleeing and seeking another home, since I cannot remain here, but I lack the strength to doit; I shudder at the thought of again being left homeless, not daring to be what Iam; I long for happiness, and yet I am sure that the short bliss I shall enjoy will again turn to despair. But I will taste it once more,” she continued, passionately ; “once again I will blindly confide as if I were igno- rant of what isto follow. Take me; do with me as you will without a question—but if Pepita must again into the desert, look for her dead body if you would behold her again.” She had uttered the last words in a lowered voice, Gomicboo Ss (E(0) m