Beadle's Dime Novels No. 142: The Sagamore of Saco — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

86 THE SAGAMORE OF SACO. twine snapped with a keen, biting sound, which seemed not unpleasant to the notable dame. Every time she knotted the mesh, she lifted her eyes and scrutinized the fuce of the host- ess, as she drew the twine home. “TI think our brother John is certainly bewitched,” said Perseverance Bonyton, to her sister, at the same time biting off the thread of the seam she had just completed. Nancy, who had been addressed, was darning a pair of stockings, with a small yellow gourd inside to hold the parts in shape. She threaded the darning-needle, arranged the gourd, and commenced working before she spoke, and then her laconic answer was no more than: “Tshouldn’t wonder !” “ My conscience, Nance, is that all you’ve got to say, after waiting so long to get it out?” Nancy compressed her lips like one determined not to be provoked into speech, holding the stocking close to her breast, and passing the needle over and under the threads, weaving in a perfect, piece of cloth. At last the rent was closed, and she held it up in triumph, saying: “ Back and forth, over and under; not a thread lost. When a work is to be done, Perseverance, I can wait.” “And while we wait, John is every day more and more deluded.” “Did you ever notice that little spot, like a drop of blood, on the shoulder of Hope Vines?” “Tt is plain enough to be seen,” returned Perseverance, running up a long needleful of stitches upon a new seam. “ Did you ever see any natural-born, true human creature, with such fiery dark eyes, and black brows, and a head of white hair to make you think of the pale horse of the Reve- lations ?”’ continued Nancy, remorselessly pricking in and out, over and under, her little web, and at each time wounding the yellow gourd. “T never did, and I never want to see such another.” “ Did you ever see a-face that is as white as if every stain had been bleached out in the frost and snow—out all day, rain or shine, hot or cold, yet never browned, never burnt, while the two lips are like two red cherries ?” “You know, vow, Nance, she is as. handsome as any nd - comic ooolks.comn | .” 2 4