Laura Brayton — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

is SY LAURA BRAYTON, 19 chap called me ‘old ’un,’ and here I am not five- and-twerty yet. I’m notold, but ’m dryin’ up. I feel that. I wonder if Miss Laura thinks so? I’d like to make up to her; sheis too proud for the likes of me, much as he tries to keep her down and break her spirit. There’s more in her char- acter than even he knows, sharp as he is. I’ve heard her say, more than once, that she’d rise to a higher and better sphere in spite of him. She will, poor girl, but not till she dies. That’s my opinion, and no charge for it neither. I wonder if I’ll ever rise toa p’int where I can charge for an opinion. I will if I can, for everything is on the rise that can rise—bread, bubbles, baubles, and why not a poor devil of a lawyer’s clerk. There goes his bell. I wonder what he wants now!” Eomicbhoo & (Efe)