The Mohegan Maiden — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

94 THR MOHEGAN MAIDEN. and then they set forth. Archibald kept an eye upon his every movement, for he feared the unknown would seek to elude him, as once before he had done. But, that personage showed no disposition to evade him now, and the young man really began to feel confidence that some great secret was about to be transmitted to his keeping. The party did not walk so fast now, and it was well on to midnight when they reached Hadley. Scouts were out, and _ they were stopped to give a satisfactory account of themselves, — ich they succeeded in doing at all times. But upon those occasions the stranger slunk mysteriously away, rejoining his friends again after the scouts had been left behind. At length they were fairly within the town, and then the stranger whispered to Archibald, ~ ™ Come with me, you and your companion, to fe house of Cornelius Williams, for in one sense Iam his guest. We » will come to the back et that no one may be disturbed.” . He led the way w ase and freedom that showed how ~ well he was acquain od ith the route. Carefully opening the door, he closed it again after the party had entered, and then placed chairs for their accommodation. By this time the master of the house had been aroused, and made his appearance with candle in one hand and musket in the other. He was assured by a word from the stranger. Williams passed the candle he held into the other’s hand, and disappeared. The stranger came forward with a step scarcely steady, and putting the candle close to Shining Star’s face, he surveyed her with a keen’and piercing gaze. | “You are not an Indian girl,” he said, rather than asked, at length. “ Yes, me Mohegan squaw,” was the almost sad reply. A: shade of disappointment crossed the face of her questioner, and stepping back apace he set the candle upon the small table. As he did so, Williams and his spouse entered the room. When they had taken seats, the stranger bent forward and said, " = My friends, these persons have been anxious to know the history of my former life, and what I really am. For some reasons I have felt it best to gratify them, and to that end I encouraged them to swear secrecy. They will not betray-me connicloooks.com