José — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

JOSE. 17 grass. He gazed helplessly about for a drop of water. He tore open the blouse which appeared to strangle him. He found a closely-buttoned waist- coat beneath. He opened it. But suddenly he paused, thunderstruck. The white breast of a gir] lay exposed to his view! For an instant he stood motionless, completely overcome by his strange dis- © covery. But it sufficed to restore him to the full possession of his faculties and to explain the mys- terious fascination which had involuntarily drawn him toward the lad. With a long lingering look he regarded the delicate, white features which now suddenly assumed an entirely different character ; then, as though he had been guilty of a serious crime, with nervous fingers he buttoned the vest, closed the blouse, and raising the limp, inanimate form in his arms, he pressed a soft kiss upon her cold, wan lips. It almost appeared to him that his kiss had instilled fresh life into her veins. He straightened up and eagerly observed the warm flush that was beginning to reanimate her face. At length a sigh escaped her lips, and slowly open- ing her eyes, she regarded him with a wild, dreamy look. “Are you recovered, Jose?” Green asked, in a trembling voice. She started, gazed wildly about her until her eye encountered the dead body of the buffalo, and seeming suddenly to realize her posi- tion in Green’s arms, by means of an adroit move- ment she regained her feet. Pressing her fingers upon her eyes, she smiled sweetly as she said: “T presume the danger 1s past, ” picking up the broad felt-hat that lay upon the ground and re- placing it upon her head. “For a moment all was dark before my eyes!” Gomicboo Ss (ee)