Roxy Hastings — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

56 ROXY HASTINGS. I believe she returns my love—but she refers me to you for an answer to my proposals.” Old Mark turned over his newspaper, from which he had scarcely removed his eyes during Mr. Lee’s speech, and replied : ‘‘She has done well. She is obedient and dutiful. I shall reward her by making her happy with a husband of her own choice—whenever that choice coincides with mine. Her present one does not. Are you answered ?” Raised to agecstasy of bliss by the beginning of this speech—dashed to earth by its conclusion, Alfred knew not what to reply. “T have long visited Lucy, and as I supposed, with your approval,” he said. ‘Do not deprive me of the hope of yet — gaining your consent to our union, if you are not now pre- pared to give it.” ‘T have other views for my daughter, Mr. Lee,” was the cold reply. ‘‘You must dismiss this fancy, as I shall take care that Lucy speedily does. I have no more to say.” Alfred retired disconsolate. Lucy could give him no hope. Indeed, she was more miserable than he, although she considered it part of her duty to conceal her grief from her lover. A few months later, and soon after his father’s decease, the young man, with the reluctant consent of his now im- poverished mother, joined one of those regiments of New York volunteers which were made up almost exclusively of gentlemen. He was impelled to this course by various motives, but chiefly by a desire to placate the restless spirit which haunted him, and to find oblivion for his grief — either in the excitement of battle or in the stillness of the grave. : | His regiment was attached to the army of the Potomac, and he passed through several engagements unharmed, and with such marked coolness and daring that his name _ be- came a synonym for bravery, not only in his own com- pany, but throughout the regiment.. When a lieutenant of his company was killed he was by acclamation pronounced his proper successor, and the voice of his comrades was confirmed by those in authority. But his military career was destined to an unpleasant interruption.. | In the battle of Williamsburgh Lieutenant Lee was taken prisoner, with hundreds of others, and within a few days afterward he found himself a tenant of one of the Rich- mond prisons. €omicbooks.col