Beadle's Dime Novels No. 13 — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

96 CEDAR SWAMP; OR, WILD NAT’S BRIGADE. calmly, the feelings which she felt she entertained for Na- thaniel. Under this very tree, two years ago, had Reginald Preston jleaded his love. What an issue that profession brought forth ! he recalled her abduction—her solitary confinement—the horrid threats of the British captain—Ernshaw’s daring—his striking down of the wretch, and his rescue of her—the dying declaration of Turner; all these incidents came up again before her, and though they touched her heart with a sense of sad- ness, how they all pleaded for the man at her side! “T have been thinking,” she at length calmly said, “as I have, I acknowledge, thought before, of you and your claim upon me. We have known each other long, and have reason to believe that we know each other truly. I have looked into my heart, and find that it fully and entirely responds to your own in its hopes, wishes, love, and confidence. I say then, in all the truth of my own soul, that I love: you as a woman should love the man she would claim as her husband, and that, as far as my consent goes, my hand and heart are yours. I will be your wife, Nathaniel.” Catherine’s manner was deliberate, unimpassioned; but her ‘ whole being stood looking from her eyes, and her sweet face iit up like a morning in June. Ernshaw’s strong nature had met its entire response. When the patriot captain that night took his leave, he printed, for the first time, upon the lips of Catherine the holy kiss of plighted troth. The next evening Nat Ernshaw came to the cottage, and told his love to Mrs. Vale in a straight-forward, manly way. Catherine had told her all, during the day, and received her parent's blessing upon her love. For Nathaniel she now entertained a real, undisguised affection, and answered his petition. for the hand of Catherine ima cordial consent. “Take her, Nathaniel; she is a precious treasure. Keep her sacredly,” was all she could say. Mrs. Vale’s house is all astir. Lights flash all over it, and glad sounds issue from within. That night will see both son and daughter of the respected widow enter into the bonds of wedlock; a double wedding is to occur at the house. comicbooks.com