Beadle's Dime Novels No. 35: East and West — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

40 THE BEAUTY OF WILLARD'S MILL. * “Pray, go after her, and apologize for me. I would not have wounded her little heart for half my expectations,” said Fletcher, with much earnestness. “ How can I apologize? She will not take my apologies, I assure you.” “Too much high blood for that,eh ? But you can ask her to come down, that I may do what would be considered proper myself.” “No indeed. I never meddle in anybody's qiendesfou must find your own opportunity.” “Tf I didn’t know from late experience that you are the best girl in the world, I'd be inclined ‘to call you the worst.” “A very trifling difference !” laughed Constance. Minnie did not make her appearance until Mrs. Willard, having commenced preparations for supper, called her to set the table. Then she came down, slowly and with evident reluctance. Fletcher noticed how pale her cheeks were, and how sad her downcast eyes; and waited impatiently for a chance of speaking with her apart. At supper’she ate nothing, but sat silently dejected, too art- less to hide her wounded feelings, and unable to overcome them. The evening proved very beautiful. Constance and Min- nie stood together in the door-way, watching the beautiful appearance of Venus, eclipsed by the lower horn of the new moon, seeming just to hang upon its tip. “Oh, Fletcher, you must come and see it!” cried Con- stance. He came very quickly—soon enough to intercept Minnie, who was moving away. “Don’t run away from me again, Miss Willard ; though no doubt I deserve it. But I beg you will not think I intended any disrespect to you, in my remarks this afternoon. WNoth- ing was further from my thoughts, I assure you.” “Tt was right you should laugh at my wretched attempts,” answered Minnie, calmly ; “ they were only fit to be laughed at.” “No, I don’t agree with you in saying that,” said Fletcher ; “because I hold that no efforts after advancement, in this or any other urt, should be ridiculed. Besides, I remember comlicbdooks.com