Roxy Hastings — page 243: what you’re looking at

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

234 ROXY HASTINGS. bedside of the patient when she returned to consciousness. They had never met but once, but poor Lucy recognized her at a glance, and though voiceless she put her trembling arms around Laura’s neck, and they were long locked ina sisterly embrace. Not a word was spoken except by the motherly Mrs. Allard, who, greatly excited, kept saying, as she wiped her eyes: “The dear loves! The sweet, pretty creatures !” “It is all right now, Lucy dear,” said Miss Lee, at last. ‘‘Don’t try to talk now, for I know how you feel. Alfred is alive and well, and he will be here in a few minutes.” Lucy’s tears came freely now, and this the doctor said was “a good sign, a very good sign.” | When Alfred came Mrs. Allard took herself and the physician out of the room, and no one but Laura witnessed the tender interview which followed, and which though protracted quite beyond the limit prescribed by the medi- cal man, did not result unfavorably to Miss Holden. Of its details ; of the heightened beauty which her now perfect — happiness imparted to Lucy’s radiant features; of Alfred’s inexpressible joy we do not propose to speak. Let us rather draw a vail over a scene which no pen could properly describe, and which imagination can only faintly depict. Miss Lee spent that night with Lucy, and on the next day the latter, although still pale and feeble, refused to be longer regarded as an invalid. She saw all her friends, and rode out with them, and re- ceived some further installments of information in regard to events which had taken place since she left America, including the marriage of her quondam lover, Mr. Burr. But they told her nothing yet of her father’s changed for- tunes, nor of the Lees’ newly acquired wealth, all of which was reserved for future explanation. At the urgent request of the Allards Laura remained their guest for the few days which were to intervene before the whole party were to leave town, either for Continental travel or for an immediate return to America, for already they were wavering upon this point, with the seeming ex- ception of Mr. Tinkelpaugh, who did not propose to aban- don his scheme of foreign travel. Lucy’s longings for home were so evident, her eyes filled so involuntarily, whenever any mention of her mother was made, that Alfred could not long remain blind to her ai nor could he fora moment think of disregarding em. cComicboo cS (ee)