Beadle's Dime Novels, No. 11 — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

104 THE PRISONER OF LA VINTRESSE. her eyes with a smile, murmuring, “ Thank God, it was then only a dream, and we have started, and Herman is on board—” She glanced slowly around the cabin. It certainly was different in size and appointments from the one she had gone to sleep in. Bewildered and surprised, she tried to gather her thoughts, as she murmured, “If only Bandola would come in, then I should know; if my head would only stop aching, and Bandola would come.” The door opened, for a moment her heart beat violently, but sank again when she saw enter, not Bandola, but a stout negress, whose face was most unpleasant. “Tt was no dream, then,” she murmured; “it was no dream, Oh, God, help me!” “ What's the matter, chile?” asked the woman, standing off, as if not quite decided, whether it was safe to approach nearer. | “They have brought me here against my will,” she cried, bursting into tears, and striking her forehead with her clasped hands. “They always says so,” muttered the woman. “ Well! so long you’s not wiolent, you'll fare well, chile, but ef you be- gins to git wrathy, the Lord help ye! ye'll have to haye straight-jacket right on, no mistake.” “A straight-jacket—me? oh! what can you mean?” cried Minerva, white with new and sudden terror. “ Never mind, honey, on’y try to keep right, dat’s all. The man as brought you here, told me jest what to do, so you needn’t talk none, honey, no use for you to tell ole story, you knows, might’s well keep yer grieft to yerself.” “God help me! I don’t know what you mean,” said Mi- nerva, quite despairingly. “ No, no, you never does,” said the negress, shortly; “I’ve seen ’em in irons and jackets and every thing, an they never knows what it’s for.” A little light began to glimmer on the poor gir]’s brain. “ Where are they taking me?” she asked, faintly. “To Cuby, chile, back to your old father and mother, break- ing dere hearts for ye, honey.” “T haven't any father and mother, they both died years ago.” comlicloooks.com