Roxy Hastings — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

ROXY HASTINGS, 127 he would not probably suspect that the imperiled man was Miss Holden’s former suitor, for he knew nothing of Al- fred having gone in the army—indeed, he knew very little ~ about him. A plea of slight illness sufficed for denying Lucy for a few days to her lover, whose solicitude was not awakened, but who found an excuse for sending in numerous costly presents of bouquets, books, fruits, etc., to relieve the tedium of a sick room. “What devotion!” exclaimed the mother. “T declare, he shows all the ardor of youth, Loo, and for that matter he doesn’t look over thirty-five—or go.” “ And pa says that a man is young at forty,” said Fanny. “Then he dresses so well—so richly, not foppishly.” * And he talks of foreign travel,” continued the mother. “He asked me this morning whether I would be willing to have you go to Italy for your wedding trip. Has he ever spoken to you about it?” * No—yes, I believe so. Iam not certain.” “Not certain? Why, that is strange.” “Somebody spoke about it. I had forgotten “whether it was he or father. I believe he did.” . Lucy spoke in a low voice, and with an air of great in- difference. She was looking out of the window. “Oh, how I should like to go to Italy!” exclaimed Fanny. “Wouldn’t you like to have me go along, if papa will let me?” 66 Yes. 9 Thus they tried to rouse her to an interest in passing and coming events, and at times they seemed momentarily to succeed. : After a few days she asked of her father, evidently with an effort: “Is it settled about Gray ?” “Yes, yes, his sentence was carried out to the letter.” * And about—about Alfred ?” “It’s all over, Loo—all past now; and what worse is it than the fate of thousands who are shot down in battle every day? Be a brave, good girl, and think no more of it.” With wonderful calmness, Lucy heard this false story, and yet it was not quite a falsehood in Mark, who fully be- lieved that Lee had been hung, as threatened, and who wished to have his daughter’s mind set at rest on the sub- ject ; suspense being far worse for her, he believed, than certainty. Comicboo cS (ele)