Beadle's Dime Novels No. 127: Bald Eagle — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

58 BALD EAGLE. for hours croning over the embers, smoking her pipe, and sometimes groaning audibly. Maggie took no interest in the outside world, and had no resources against the miseries of her solitary home. She who had shrank from the terror of storm and tempest, as the young generally do, learned to an- ticipate their coming with delight, for stormy nights brought her husband home. The wind was gusty, driving heavy clouds oyer the valley. Maggie stood in the twilight watching these indications of stormy weather. The old womat was sitting, as was her wont, over the coals, when the former approached and asked, “ Will it storm to night, mother ?” “No. It is only wind. I wish it would hail cats and dogs.” “ IT shouldn’t like to be out in such a storm,” said Maggie, With a faint laugh. “You'll have to meet a worse, and so shall I. Dick’s.a thankless lad, and so is Robert as to that; they both keep away from their poor old mother.” | And she began to sniffle, and swing her leg, and bring her heel down upon the hearth, in the old way when under men- tal excitement. “Poor Richard is troubled and unhappy, mother; I am sure he loves you.” “As much as the wolf loves its dam,” and she smoked furiously. Maggie slipped aside into the dark shadows of the room, and seated herself by the empty cradle, silent and motionless. At length there was a tap upon the window and she open- ed the door, refraining from all demonstrations of attachment till her husband entered, and the bars were let down, then she Clung to him, and begged he would not leave her again. Clasping her in one arm as if she were only a child, he ap- proached the old woman, who-had merely turned her head, and eyed the scene askance. “Mother, Iam going. I know not when I ghall return ; be kind to poor Magggie.” “Yes, yes, be kind to Maggie; no kindness for the poor old creeter that brought you into the world.” Richard set his teeth violently, but he answered, COME OOKS. COM