Beadle's Dime Novels, No. 11 — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

MINERVA AND BRUNO. 101 The time was after dinner, nearing three o'clock of the afternoon. When she had read Jessie’s letter, she hurtied into the room of Mrs. Goreham, who was partially an invalid, “ Are you well enough to Walk, this afternoon ”” she asked. “ Not quite,” was the reply. “But don’t stay for me, your exercise is so limited, that I dare not have you give up your walk. Take Bruno, and I am sure the gardener’s wife will go with you.” — It was a lovely afternoon, and Minerva longed for the goli- tude of the great oaks, where she was wont to rove. Truth to tell, it suited her best to be alone, though the company of the good farmer’s wife was no intrusion, for her tastes were refined, and her conversation was instructive. She left the room silently to prepare herself, and on the way met the gardener’s wife, who to her response: “ Be you going out?” re- ceived no reply, save the quiet, “yes;” for Minerva could not Tun the risk of spoiling a lovely walk by the common-place society of the fat gardener's wife. So, after throwing on bon- net and mantle, she sauntered through the long, shaded entry, out upon the shadowed grass plat, covered with snowiest laces, and called Bruno. At the sound of her sweet voice, the dog, who was lying near his house, at the farther end of the garden, sprang up with a joyful cry, and ran toward her. She patted him on the head as she stood there, a pretty picture, her dark curls blown about her chéek by the breeze, and the dog with half-human eyes, fixed upon her beautiful face. “Bruno, will you go with me for a walk?” she asked, showing the little book that she usually carried upon such excursions. . The dog gave a sharp bark, that might have been inter- preted, “yes.” “Well, come along then, but you must not run; here, here, stay close beside me, for I have~no other protector but you, to-day.” The faithful creature surely understood, for he fell back on the instant, and moved with her step for step, looking mo- mently up as if he said, “ you see I am trying to take the best of care of you.” Quietly they walked along the grassy path that “led to the broad fields.) These they passed, under the shade of the apple-trees that lined either side. The low hum of comicloooks.com