Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 29 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page Description This is running prose from Chapter II, titled "Unaka." The page depicts Tom's arrival at an estate where he encounters two young women, Dare and Mimi, described in vivid Victorian detail. Tom receives a letter (not a handkerchief as initially thought) brought by the Governor's express, which he reads. The letter, from what appears to be a military figure addressing "Madam," requests that a servant named Ishmael be sent immediately with clothing and supplies to Indian Land, mentioning the "enemy" and referencing a defeat at Savannah—suggesting a Revolutionary War or Civil War context. The sender also notes his English mare has been sent home due to illness.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CHAPTER II UNAKA Tom’s approach had been found out by a half-dozen dogs, a round dozen blacks, and two persons coming through the gate in the privet hedge. Throwing the bridle to the negro boy that reached him first, om answered the flutter of a handkerchief from the little gate. Here were Dare and Mimi. Dare was tall as her brother, straight as a reed, brilliant with vitality. Live red was in her round cheek. She had big dark eyes, “like all the De Berriens,”’ and a mass of burnished curls was tied right atop of her pretty head. Mimi, in that crimson bombazet petticoat- and-shortgown, showed up on the lawn like a flamingo on -asandbar. She was inclined to prettiness, and positively picturesque. She had large gray eyes — queerly humane for gray eyes — and wonderful lashes and brows. No handkerchief that. It was a letter fluttering in Dare’s hand. And the boy called eagerly, “From papa?” “From ‘Troupe!”’ “Who fetched it?” “One of the Governor’s expresses. Brought a copy of the ‘American Remembrancer’ too; account of the de- feat at Savannah. Grandmother’s read the letter, — over and over.” Tom fell upon it. The lines ran: — My dear Madam : — The enemy still being obstinate, and not knowing how long they may continue so, | must beg the favor of you to send off Ish immediately, on Black Sloven, with a pair of thick breeches, my blue coat, and three ruffled shirts — with- out stocks — and one pair of silk breeches. Ishmael is to go no further than Mrs. McPherson’s at Indian Land, where Jacob will meet him. I’ve sent my English mare home. She’s been very sick. GOMmiGcvoo cS (Cc) im