Beadle's Dime Novels, No. 11 — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

124 THE PRISONER OF LA VINTRESSE. valid. We must be prepared to see a great change in him. Minerva says he has suffered terribly—my poor boy! Those proud Spaniards shall pay for it.” “They haye gone home, father.” “Yes, but we can reach them. Now, how shall we tell your mother ?” “Father, PW tell her,” said Jessie. | “Very well, my darling—break it to her as gently as you can,” and with a grateful heart he kissed the fair white fore- head, One can imagine the emotions of the little party gathered to welcome the wanderer home on that eventful morning. It proved a clear and beautiful day, and God was not forgotten for his glorious sunshine, for all his tender mercies, The pale lips of the invalid-mother moved often as if in prayer. At nine o'clock, Senor Abrates came over from the hotel, as sel- dom a day had passed of late that he did not. Oh! that sound of carriage-wheels! Jessie cannot endure the silence—she starts forward screaming that Herman is com- ing. But when she sees that pale being, lifted in the stalwart arms of his father—that white figure not at all like the brave, handsome brother who went away—she starts back, trembling and in tears. A joyful kiss was on the cheek—soft arms around her neck—it was the embrace of Minerva. For many minutes the silence was something solemn and heart-breaking, but Herman laid his poor head upon his mother’s breast, and felt stealing over him the old content of his boyhood. When words came, the confusion was appalling. Jessie hovered round the couch, kissing and caressing, while her father walked the room with glad and rapid heart-pulsings, praying audibly in thankfilness for this unlooked-for blessing. Mi- nerva knelt down by old Bruno, quite overcome at sight of him, for she had long thought him dead, and the faithful crea- ture gave a low whine of delight. The proud but crest-fallen Don Carlos had returned to Cuba, but before he went, to the extreme indignation of his guardian, he had made the pretty butterfly, Dora, his wife The poor general never held up his head afterward—poor, for he was now impoverished since he learned through the Senor Abrates that Minerva had been put in possession of knowledge connicliooks,. conn >