Mezzoni the Brigand — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. 29 health. Her hair was marvelously luxuriant and of a soft and delicate golden hue, presenting a rather striking contrast with her black éyebrows and long black eyelashes. She was above the medium height, and her figure was well rounded and graceful. We need not here record the profuse words of gratitude expressed by the old soldier to young Ham- mond, nor those of the blushing and beautiful girl. Walter thought he had never seen a more lovely creature in his life, and he would have been happy to go through fire to serve her, as he had done through water, if it were necessary. It was very natural that an intimacy should follow hard upon such a very peculiar introduction, and thus during the next fortnight, in that -city by the sea, these two were scarcely separated from each other for an hour of the sunny days. ; The colonel could only act as an escort for his daughter to places where they could ride, as his lameness was of a nature to prevent his walking except with the greatest inconvenience and with two canes. But he did not hesitate to trust Marion to the care of the young American in their visits to the museum, art galleries, and other attractions within the city. Both of the young people spoke Italian, and were thus enabled to make the most of their visits and excursions about the Neapolitan capital. Walter Hammond was engaged in mercantile life, and his present visit to Naples was in the interests of the house in New York, of which his father was the senior partner. He was just twenty-four years of age, and already a junior partner in the concern. His prospects in life were excellent, but his present possessions were not by any means large. He had (Efe) » ¢€omicbooks