Beadle's Dime Novels, No. 11 — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

AN ENGAGEMENT RING. 41 “Tf you please, for a few moments,” said Minerva, anxious to be alone with her new happiness, for it was a happiness to know again that some one_felt an interest in her. Dora led her into an exquisite little room, hung with dra- peries of blue silk, It seemed so much like home to be sur- rounded with these luxuries, that Minerva could have cried for jey like a very child. As it was, a few grateful tears fell _ quietly, but they were soon chased away by smiles. She lifted the curtain, the window led on a balcony, and looked out on a pleasant yard, bordered with flower-plats, in the midst of a pretty fountain, springing from a shell in the hand of a marble boy, whose bright face shone through the spray with an ever- beaming glance of wondering delight. Not far off, she could see the iron railings of a park, and in the tall trees around her, the birds sang gayly. Here, then, she had found rest; here she could freely tell all her griefs, and lay her plans for the discovery of Herman's fate, for that he was dealt foully by, she never for an instant doubted. After a few moments of rest, she went again into the room where Dora was. Her new friend lay nestling on a lounge, Ler eyes closed, the fan hanging listless. “How graceful she is,” thought Minerva, scanning the delicate poise of the limbs, admiring the white, rounded arm. Dora opened her eyes. “Oh, there you are,” she cried gleefully; “I thought you were never coming. Have you rested? Do you never have more color than now? I should think that you had been ill. What pretty hands! do let me see them.” Minerva, smiling and pleased, held out her hands for inspection. - 3 “Smaller than mine, I do believe, and what a beautiful ring! Is it an engagement ring ?” Minerva’s heightened color answered her, she did not wait for speech, but ran playfully on, amusing her companion vastly more than afy thing else could. “ How entertaining she is,” was Minerva’s second thought, “we shall get along admiringly together.” “Do you play? Yes, charming! and sing, I suppose. So does Manuel, he knew you in Cuba, did he not ?” “Yes, he came sometimes to my uncle's house,” was the =~ reply. : conmicloooks.conn