Beadle's Dime Novels, No. 11 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

22 THE PRISONER OF LA VINTRESSE. and white linen. The presumptuous fool! He was actually in conference with the governor. We are not quite out of the woods yet, general. There are vessels going out of the har- bor every night—ay! and to-night.” The old Spaniard glanced up, alarmed. He met the wick- edly smiling eye of his ward. = “T am not in the least concerned,” said the latter. “It takes a great deal to disturb me. The senora’s reproaches, here, even fall upon me with the soothing influence of balmy showers. If my wife ever has hysterics, I shall study them.” The general nodded his head approvingly. “As for El Americano, let him look out for himself, if he stands in my way, that’s all. But I am forgetting my pretty bird. Senora, oblige me by filling a cup with this charming tea; and now, thank you—ah! with what a grace it was done! Now may I ask a very tremendous favor—that you yourself, with your own fair hands, will take it up to my pretty bird, with my compliments. Do not be frightened, my guardian,” he added, as the old senora left the room smiling (for she was not averse to compliments, even insincere ones), “I have only put in a little soothing powder; it will affect her volition, and perhaps her memory. Under ordinary circumstances, it would but make one sleepy, or more vulgarly speaking, stupid. She will not appear any the less interesting that she obeys im- plicitly. * We shall astonish our guests who do not dream that they are coming to a wedding.” The general's sister returned with the empty cup. “How did you find her?’ asked Don Carlos, wiping his mustached mouth, leisurely, with a napkin of exquisite texture. “Apparently meditating,” replied the senora. “She sat with her prayer-book before her, and seemed muctr pleased with the proof of your thoughtfulness.” ; “Ah! come round at last, like a good child,” muttered the young man; and he opened his cigar case, offered it to the general, and both strolled out on the open balcony for a lounge. : Senora Mancha, however, after ringing in the servants to carry out the table, hurried from room to room to see that all the arrangements were perfect. Flowers bloomed and fresher was their brilliant beauty, than the cold splendors comiclbooks.com