Beadle's Dime Novels No. 13 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

CEDAR SWAMP; ¢ WILD NAT’S BRIGADE, CHAPTER I. CATHERINE VALE. THERE was a time in the history of our country when . the stoutest hearts were filled with despair. The defeat of Gen- etal Gates, followed by the oyerrunning of the Carolinas, the treachery of Benedict Arnold, and the general bad condition of our army, did not, certainly, tend to cheer those thousands — of noble souls earnestly praying for the success of ‘the: Amer- ican cause. It is of that period, of that darkest hour, which precedes the day, that we purpose to write, Toward the close of a long, disagreeable day, two women sat by the fireside of a dwelling some fifteen or eighteen miles from Charleston. The two presented a contrast, indeed, even though their features were alike. One was an elderly woman, with hair sprinkled with threads of gray, though she yet retained much of her early beauty.. The other was a young girl, whose age could not have exceeded nineteen. Al- though not absolutely beautiful, there was that about her which made her fascinating. ‘With features finely molded, and _ a graceful carriage, lier figure was a model of physical grace and perfectness. Her hair was of that golden hue, so seldom seen save in poet’s dreams. Her voice was: as musical and clear as the notes of a flute, Not in all that land of: fair women could be found a more truly lovable woman than Catherine Vale. ; Catherine and her mother were conversing earnestly te: gether. | | ConnicloookkS.comn)