Vashti's Fate — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

. SEED SOWN IN GOOD GROUND. 71 But particularly this one, drooping there at the fireside, in an altogether new mood, interested him. He thought she had a very sweet face; he liked the frank and outspoken fearlessness of her brown eyes; he liked the pretty sweep of her clustering curls about the roses and snow of her cheeks and brow. Watching her now, thoughtful upon the hearth, an irresistible desire seized him to know what she was thinking of. Crossing to where she stood, he sud- denly prisoned both her fluttering hands in his. “*Lenore!” he said. She lifted her dreamy eyes to his face. ‘‘? want to make a contract with you. You said to me once that you wished you had a brother Leon Brownlee. I will be your brother, and you shall be my little sister. 4 Is it a bargain ?” : ‘*T should like it very much, sir.” 4 «Sir !” he interrupted her. ‘‘ You must say Leon.” — Fe She smiled and nodded, but the smile was not her usual “4 mirthful one. is He drew her away to the bay window, brought a : cushioned chair, and ensconcing her therein, sat himself down near. ‘““Now, he said, ‘‘1 want to know the meaning of this dreary little face ?” “If I could—if I might talk to you just as though you were my brother. The rest laugh at me, or get angry, except mamma, and she must not be worried.” ‘“ You may say anything you like to me.” ‘But they say I ask such foolish questions. Sha’n’t I trouble you ?” ‘‘You need never fear troubling me; but you must decide in your own mind before you ask me, whether the question you are about to propose is a suitable one to Apes Readers Pee me 7 | comicbooks.com ° - — ; e ; ’ Re Sabot ; +] ‘s - ge 5 x > ~S - - - “ > “ t . - Ny aX we ~ eee > | ein oe a ? 1 - apt 4 " 2. Lat s4. "jA4 2 ~~ oe, ae of ee = £ ee my Us ok"