Roxy Hastings — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

AVA x ’ 6 fry wht 4 . ” 7 c ‘ B e : J x * iy ye a cen y . A i ae hs cone thy ae! 7 ae, € a e- p* Pe) Sat Sees 8 t+ rd oe ae : wists en pa oes bal Hi ai Bote i.e Fone rt ™M L - ¥ ‘ / Fe owt F + om hee] i : im Os A a el | aot wy i foe i 7) . ; set Woe Sf ( = Fe SO) ie = Mo OPS gk 7 et ¥ ~~ 7 a * ee TS a Ken f re we Po See USNS A ee = 4 " : : a} a _—— aon Ny % ’ ‘ : Lt : ,* + a ae — Py ‘<2 28 ROXY HASTINGS, declined to take a deed until the title had been examined —scratched off a memorandum of the agreement for the young man to'sign, paid him a thousand dollars earnest money, and agreed to meet him in New York in three days to complete the purchase. Bewildered by the change in his fortunes, and by the prospect so suddenly opening to him, yet resolved not to quit the place without again seeing Roxana, and learning something of her history, the young man retraced his steps in the afternoon to Farmer Rooke’s, and asked per- mission to take up his quarters there until the ensuin day. | This unexpected request was, of course, readily granted, the artful host suspecting nothing of the causes which led to it, and being willing to make some profit out of his ver- _ dant customer, though baffled in his main design against him. Charley was rather more reserved in his communica- tions now, and Rooke plied him with questions which brought only the vaguest answers; but the squire learned the whole story from other sources before night, even to the thousand dollars which now reposed in the young man’s pocket. But in his turn he now maintained silence on the subject, and professed not to know that Lee had sold his land. ; Sharp and Shigh had gone to digest their chagrin and try their wits in other quarters, so that Lee was not further molested by the inquisitiveness of those around him. But how should he open communication with poor Rox- ana, whose welfare he had so much at heart, and to whom he owed so much? Evening drew nigh before he could satisfactorily answer this question, and then he decided that he would openly seek the information that he wanted, and would try to place the young girl on a better footing in her uncle’s family, until such time as he could bestow upon her some greater benefaction, “Who is this Roxy, this servant girl of yours, Mr. Rooke?” he asked. ‘‘She seems too young and feeble for her work.” 3 _ “Oh, she ain’t a servant; she’s my wife’s niece, Roxy is. And as to her being feeble, it’s only laziness. She is strong enough and smart enough when she wants to do anything.” “That is, when she takes an interest in what she does. But why does she live with you thus? Has she no parents 2” ‘She has a mother and sister in Philadelphia, and they Comicbooks.com >