Beadle's Dime Novels No. 35: East and West — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

64 THE BEAUTY OF WILLARD’S MILL. “ What's that up there by the island? I can’t make it out,” said Minnie, still gazing curiously. “<*Oh! is it weed, or-mist, or floating hair— Or drowned maiden’s hair,’ ” repeated Constance, without dreaming how near its meaning might apply. Minnie turned pale. - “ Why, Constance, I believe thet’s what it is—it’s some one drowned !” “Heaven forbid! but it does look like wet hair. What it should be ?” “T'll go and tell father,” said Minnie, hurrying down. In a few moments some of the men had drawn out, and Jaid upon a plank, the body of the little tow-headed boy, Ike. Besides this one, no others were drowned in that neighborhood, except such as the river took when it under- mined the landing. The roads, at last, had mended sufficiently for travel, and Fletcher Harris felt that his business could not longer be neg- lected, nor Mr. Willard’s hospitality any longer taxed. Yet, so strong a hold had the artless child of the prairie got upon his manly regards, that he could not leave without knowing something more of her sentiments toward him—something more of the cause of her late coldness, tempered though it was with a gentle melancholy. But the more he desired it, the further off seemed the opportunity of speaking with her alone. All their former walks had been given up since the flood, on account of the mud and water to be encountered ; and he only saw her now in the presence of the whole family. Fortune, however, which is said to favor the brave, one day favored Fletcher. Mr. Willard was obliged to go to the Grove for something needed by the carpenters, and, having invited his wife and niece to a seat in the ox-wagon, Minnie ‘ was left alone to keep house. Fletcher had gone out in the morning with a fowling-piece, but, knowing the plans of the day, took good care not to be gone too long a time. “Miss Minnie,” said he, throwing down a brace of musics upon the door-step, “ will you take another drawing-lesson to- day? or shall we walk? or in what way can we best spend the day?” . comliclbooks.com