José — page 299: what you’re looking at

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

999 JOSE. and as if suddenly overwhelmed by her emotions, she sank upon her knees, “ Jose—Pepita!” Green cried, encircling her waist, while Mary and Baumann hastily approached. “Tt’s all nonsense. The whole thing might have been settled in a few words,” growled the hunter, turning away, “and then again it might have been worse. Oh, if that girl had only been born a boy. It’s areal pity, and the freighter said so.” That same evening, long after darkness had set in, McAllister and Hattie, the aged housekeeper, were sitting together in a small room adjoining the death chamber. They were divided by a table, upon which a tallow candle was dimly burning, and were both thoughtfully staring at a common point. “T think she is only doing what’s best for her. and for us, too,” the overseer finally began, “and we ought to thank her, Hattie. When I think of her flight, for that’s what it was, and no use saying it was a wild, girlish freak—when I think of her looks, as we were starting for the magistrate’s place, I can’t blame her for not being more demonstrative in her grief over the dead man. She respected the memory of the last of the McGregors by confirming our positions for life, leaving everything in our hands, the same as before, and only taking what she needs for her immediate necessities. The housekeeper raised her eyes, red from weep- ing. “That is all very well, McAllister,” said she; “I am well aware that she could not have acted other- wise, but it is after all only compassion, and she has done nothing for the sake of the McGregors. Itis very hard in our old days.” OMI NOOLKKS (E(O) m