Roxy Hastings — page 248: what you’re looking at

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

ROXY HASTINGS, | 239 where he found his grandson, reading, and looking as if he ik very weary of his book, and himself, and everything else. He welcomed his grandfather as usual, flung down his book, and arose to give him a chair. “I want to ask you a question,” said the major. “Twenty of them, grandfather. “No, only one. But it’s a big one,” replied the old man, laughing. “I am all attention.” “Why don’t you marry that little angel down stairs— Roxy ?” Jupiter! What a blush for a man with a mustache and a goatee! How it mantled cheeks and forehead and neck! “Why—why—grandfather! What put that into your head ?” “No matter! ‘You haven’t answered my question.” “Why, Roxy don’t want me; I—I’m not half handsome enough, or gay enough for her. She’s a thousand times too good for me.” ~ Ha, ha, ha!” laughed the major. “What are you laughing at?” “No matter. Yes, Iam laughing to hear you underrate yourself. I think you’re good enough for her, and then she owes everything to you.” ; “No, I owe everything to her. Besides, if it were other- wise I do not want any one to marry me out of gratitude.” “ But if she loves you?” ‘Ah, if indeed !” “If she loves you with her whole heart, and has for a long, long time 2?” “Well?” “Would you marry her then 2” “Would I? Of. course I would, grandfather, and be the happiest man in the world.” : “Go ask her then. There she is walking in the garden. You may say I sent you if you choose.” “Why, grandfather !” “Yes, yes, go along. I say she loves you—dotes on you —is pining for you. Goalong! Goalong!” Charley went, and in ten minutes, or fifteen at the farth- est, he was an engaged man, and with Roxy in tears, came back to thank the major for having broken the spell which seemed to have veen laid upon them. The old gentleman congratulated them with great warmth, but at the same time laughed at them heartily tor EComicboo cS (E(0) im