Beadle's Dime Novels No. 14 — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

A THUMPING LEGACY. 39 One morning he had a letter which he read upon the por- tico of the hotel. “Well, Pennon, what news—good or bad ” asked his friend Noyse, who saw a change pass over his countenance. “ Most people would think it good news. You haye heard me tell of that eccentric old bachelor who spent his whole fortune of two hundred thousand dollars upon fifty acres of ‘land, and a castle which he built in its midst, living thereafter in it, solitary, like a spider in the center of his web of glory. { believe I was almost the only human being he ever fancied, after the young lady deceived him, who was the ruin of one of the most splendid of men. Well, he is dead, and has left me his castle and surroundings.” “Whew! most people would call that pretty good news. You were born with a gokl spoon in your mouth, my dear friend. There is no use in your friends standing by and coy- eting the delicious morsels you fish up with it.” Pennon heaved a deep sigh. “ How little.is known of people’s real fortunes—the fortunes of the heart—whether they are good or bad. I assure you, Noyse, I am not to be envied.” “ Yet I'd e’en take the burden of that little love-affair upon my spirits, for the consideration of your good looks, good gifts, and good luck.” “ Pshaw ! love affair!” muttered Pennon. “To be Bure it is strange that you could be unfortunate in love, unless the lady of your choice be dead. But if it is not that, what is it that keeps you so low-spirited, eh ?” - “ Indignation, perhaps. Let us think of this new turn of the wheel, Noyse. What do you say to making up a party of our friends here, three or four of them, and going upsto St. Ceil to look at the castle, and to stop awhile if we like it ”” “Glorious! Now that you speak of it I shall be impatient until we start.” “Very well, then. We will have Fenelon and his beguti- ful wife—” “ And her still more beautiful sister.” “Yes; and that is all. I know they have nothing to do but idle away the summer, and if they are ready we will start to-morrow.” comiliclbooks. com ~ {