Beadle's Dime Novels No. 35: East and West — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

ot THE BEAUTY OF WILLARD’S MILL. “She is very lovely in her looks,” said Constance, caress- ingly touching the delicate brow with her soft fingers. “Thank you, cousin Constance,” spoke Minnie, earnestly, unclosing her eyes. The recognition was so sudden, that a glow of surprise, almost of embarrassment, tinged the creamy paleness of Con- stance’s cheek; yet she smiled an answer to the eloquent eyes fixed on her face, and continued to stroke the long, brown, rippling tresses that fell over the pillow, vefy ten- derly. “ Father, I am not ‘wild’ any more,” said Minnie, after a few moments’ thought. “I am going to be a woman, now, for I am seventeen !—but I want some help from you. I want to go to school—can’t I, father ?” She held up her little sun-burnt hand entreatingly, while the tears rushed to her eyes. Mrs. Gleason made him a sign not to refuse her. “We'll see about it, daughter, when you get well; that is, if Constance will consent to your deserting her.” “Ts Constance going to stay with us? Oh, I am # glad! because she will know better than any one else what I need.” “ Yes, I guess she’ll stay ; for ’'ve promised her a barn to live in!” and, to amuse his daughter, Mr. Willard told her about his altered plans. Her eyes beamed with delight. “ You must let Constance plan the new house,” she said, “for I’m sure she can a it better than we can.” “ Or, what will be a great deal more certain of pleasing you, we will get Mr. Harris to draw a plan, when he is well enough ; he is an artist and designer,” replied Constance. Neither father nor cousin understood the flash of surprise which lit up the soft eyes on hearing this; nor the instant look of annoyance which followed. “ How is Mr. Harris?” she asked. “ Doing very well, I believe.” As Minnie fell into a reverie, her visitors, fearing to fatigue her, took leave; and Mrs. Gleason, noticing the flushed cheeks of her patient, redoubled her precautions against an accession of fever: But her care was almost superfluous; for Minnie’s comliclooks.com