Beadle's Dime Novels No. 126: Old Jupe — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

10 | OLD JUPE. ~ her rich brown hair so smoothly and placed a wild-rose in it, which she had gathered out of the grass near at hand. And for him, that the pink calico was ironed so nicely, and the little white apron tied on so trimly. Mary was in full dress, when she had on her best calico and her white apron. Not eyen Miss Brown, the merchant’s daughter, dressed any better, except, perhaps, for balls. In those rough, transition days of society in the new settlements, such was the fashion, and Mary was “ good as any body” in standing ; a blacksmith was as good as a lawyer. 6: Sitting there in the doorway, she made a lovely picture, her red cheeks redder in the sunset, with the smile of ex- pectation in her eyes. Handsome as fine features, complex- ion, and figure could make her, she possessed a still greater charm in a peculiar expression of innocence and sweet tem- per. This sweef temper it was, which made her the comfort and delight of her parents, who had scarcely grieved over Annette’s determination to remain at the East. Annette. al- ways was selfish, grumbling at every privation, but Mary was their sunshine, warming them when cold, cheering them when clouded with ease and toil. Suddenly Mary shaded her eyes with her hand, peering eagerly at a couple who had left the boat, crossed the town, and were coming up the road towards the house. She knew the lithe figure and elastic step of the young man; it was for him she had been looking ; her heart. bounded and cheeks tingled as she saw him coming; but the joy of certainty was now disturbed by wonder at who the other visitor could be. Presently she sprung to her feet, calling out, ‘‘ Mother, here’s Nettie, a3 sure’s you're alive.” “ Nettie! pshaw! get out, child! you must be erazy |” “T tell you ’tis, mother. And she’s coming up from the boat with Luke Bryant. He must have taken passage at St. Louis, and they’ve got acquainted on the way.” Mrs. Miller threw’ down. her mending and came to the door. Neither of the women seemed so glad as might have been supposed at seeing so near a relative. Not that Mary did not love her half-sister; she really had a good deal of affection for her, in spite of the other’s selfishness and cold- ness; but, something in the air of the young couple struck connicloooks.com EES ee ee ee ee 3 “ —_— 9