Beadle's Dime Novels No. 35: East and West — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

66 THE BEAUTY OF WILLARD’S MILL. “If I were guilty of serious coquetry, Mr. Harris, like that of being engaged to one lady, and making vain speeches to another, who has not the wit to answer, you might then re- prove me.” | “Do you think that I am engaged, then, Minnie, and is it me you mean to charge with trifling ” His voice was low and upbraiding, and his face bore wit- ness to the injury done his feelings by her suspicions. Poor Minnie! she was not proof against any thing like sadness in a self-possessed man of the world, such as Fletcher Harris ; and she fell into the snare. " “Are you not going to marry my cousin Constance?’ she asked, with a brightening countenance; “I thought you were.” “Then you thought wrongly, Minnie. May I come in there and tell you something ?” “TI can not bid you stay out,” she answered, shyly. “ Here I am, then,”—taking a seat beside her own,—“ and I shall trouble you to listen to me, while I talk a little about myself. Iam not what you seem to suspect, a ladies’ man— one who talks fair to every pretty woman of his acquaint- ance; but have remained both honest and heart-whole, amid all the fascinations of society. Something—I used to think it was my love of Art—kept me free; but now, I think, it was my good star, and that it led me to you. I love you, lit- tle Fawn, because you are a ‘rare and radiant maiden,’ unlike those of your sex I am best acquainted with, and eyery way, altogether, after my own heart. I wonder if one so sweet and fair could love me?” “ Oh, Mr. Harris !” cried Minnie, without venturing to look up, “ I know nothing about love; I can not tell—” and here she broke quite down. “You can answer me one question, Minnie. Was it be- cause you believed me engaged, that kept you from returning my love, which I am sure you must haye seen 2’ - Her hands trembled so at her sewing, that the needle only pricked her fingers, and did little else besides. “T wish you would tell me, Minnie,” said Fletcher, trying to look under the downcast eyelids, and getting possession of the little, trembling hands. comiicbooks.com