Laura Brayton — page 216: what you’re looking at

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

LAURA BRAYTON. 207 under and above ground, of the old mansion, she imparted them to Hawk, hence it was easy to make of ita “haunted house,” and in many ways to annoy and startle the fiendish lawyer. The rest of the story has explained itself. The — property of Mr. Withers, increased immensely in value, was through the papers taken from Sharp, easily regained without an appeal to law. And now, with the brothers, wife, and daughter, — joyously reunited, comes our pleasing finale. “To this young gentleman,” said Mr. Johnson, - pointing to Eldridge Putnam, as he addressed Luke : Withers, “we owe a large deht of gratitude, which there is but one way of paying. When your daugh- ~ | ter was friendless, treated like a menial by Sharp, persecuted and wronged, when he supposed her to— be a portionless, friendless orphan, he was _ her friend and her champion, and giving her his heart also offered her his hand and an honorable alliance with one of our proudest families. She, with a pride — well worthy of a noble nature, while loving him, refused to take advantage of his generous affection, but said she would first rise to an equality which would not cause his relatives to look down on her. _—— Equal now in social position, what should hinder a | union so desirable?” “Nothing!” said Mr. Withers. “Nothing!” said his happy wife. “Nothing. Thank Heaven, I now have heirs to whom I can leave that which so much troubled my | mind!” said Mr. Walter Withers. And Mr. Luke Withers placed the willing hand of his child in that of Eldridge Putnam. “Say, what d’ye want with us, old fel? Here we are!” Eomicbooks (ele)