Beadle's Dime Novels No. 316: Hurricane Bill — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

A REFUSAL. 83 then you can speak. I have loved her for some months. Where or how I first saw her, does not matter now. It? is enough that I left my bold band and came to your rancho with only one object in view—that of winning her, as a man of honor should. Well, you know what caused me to adopt anather course—those accursed Americans—chosen children of the devil! Aided by the charms of their foul master, they cast shame upon my head. He with the yellow hair cast a spell over her—see! her cheek flushes even now! How could I fight against his infernal arts? In only one way; and that way I followed. “Don Munez, I told you I loved your dasgtiter She is here, wholly in my power; I wish to make her my wife. If I have your consent, and hers, I will send for a priest. If you refuse —which, for your own sake; [ hope you’ will not—you can count your remaining hours of life upon the fingers of one hand. Now you can speak—I am listening,’ said Black Garcia, with drunken gravity. “ My daughter, do you love this man ?” The shudder of intense abhorrence that ran over the maid- en’s frame was answer most eloquent. “Good! If you had said yes, I would have felt tempted to curse you. Listen. You come of a pure-blooded; honor- able race. You must not be the first to stain the name. Better death th'an dishonor. And as for you, Black Garcia,” added Don Munez, turning to the outlaw chief, who sat as if petrified; “take this for your answer. No child of mine shall ever mate with a thief, renegade, cutthroat. As for myself—it matters little whether I die now or a year hence ; by the hand of man, or the claws of a foul, cowardly coy- ote.” The biting, contemptuous words of the old man seemed to effectually sober the bandit chief. Though his face turned.a sickly gray, and his hand closed nervously upon the haft of his cuchillo, he answered never a word, but turned and si- lently left the apartment. Though Don Munez felt assured that the words he had spoken had’ sealed his fate, he gave all his attention to com- forting Carmela, seeking to strengthen her for the coming or- deal. He reminded her that she held life or death in her commiclbooks.conn