Beadle's Dime Novels, No. 11 — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

32 THE PRISONER OF LA VINTRESSE. One day she was inspired with a sudden impulse to walk * to the Battery. So arranging herself in her most unostenta- tious dress, she walked slowly along, her eyes looking straight forward as if she never again expected to see any thing of suf- ficient interest to attract their glances. The fresh air, blowing cooler as she neared the water, revived her however; and brought a faint color to her cheek. A German band discoursed sweet music, and children in bright dresses running eagerly past her, made her heart beat faster with their happy smiles and cheerful voices. But as she hurried by all these and stood looking at the water, the old desolate, homesick feeling came over her, Only to hear a voice that had once been familiar, how sweet it would be! She sat down upon one of the benches, her pale face bayward, and the past with its happi- ness and its sorrows came over her in & tumultuous tide. She. thought of her school-days—of the pleasant little parties of Saturday night when some of the young students who were well known by the principal, were allowed to mingle socially with the pupils. The bright face of Herman with its blue eyes and gold brown hair, seemed even now beside her as then. How little in thos¢ happy days she thought of any coming darkness? The merry girls in their bright dresses, all so eager to receive one smile from Herman, the prince of the college, as he was playfully dubbed, came. thronging by. Southern eyes and night black tresses—Northern brows and fair golden hair, but he had turned from all to her. ‘ She lived — over again the happiness of hearing him call her “ beloved”— of listening to his voice that seemed to her of all music the sweetest. Noblest, bravest, most beautiful of all the sons of men he was to her! Then he had followed her to the sunny land of her birth. For two burning summers he had braved the pestilence to be near her. Shudderingly she recalled the first time, that Don Carlos thrust his dark presence between her and happiness—the evil hour when he grew jealous of E? Americano, and became more impetuous in his suit. His dark hints and wicked insinuations sounded even now in her ears. His black, lurid eyes scorched her soul, and recalled the dreadful repagnance that had been sleeping in her heart since when he was her constant tormentor And now what had he done with Herman? Had he fulfilled his fright- commiclooks.corn