Beadle's Dime Novels No. 35: East and West — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

PREPARING FOR A BALL. 73 worked faithfully to do something he would approve. Only one brief visit bad Fletcher made, during the summer, to the mill; and then had not said aught to Minnie of his love foy her; being determined to let her mind and heart develop it- self, unhastened by a too urgent suit. He saw she was grow- ing rapidly in intellectual graces—he hoped after a while she would wake up to the consciousness of her woman's wealth of heart. Meantime, the new house, which Fletcher had planned for Mr. Willard, was making good progress toward completion ; and it was thought it would be ready for a house-warming be- fore the close of navigation. As Constance and her brother were to return to New York late in the autumn, it was designed by her uncle and aunt to make this occasion coincident with that of a farewell ball, to which were to be invited such ac- quaintances in Kanesville as had been polite to Minnie and her cousin. And this anticipated party, which was to be, under Constance’s direction, a grander affair than Minnie had ever witnessed, caused her to begin some new lessons. Every evening, after the carpenters had finished their work, the shav- ings were swept away in one of the new rooms, and Minnie took a dancing lesson from her cousin. Sometimes, the better to illustrate the figures of a dance, the services of Nat were required ; and often of Frank and Olive. These latter were accustomed to attend the country balls, and knew enough of the art of dancing to learn more; and in time became very good performers, to the great satisfaction of all concerned. Mr. Willard, who, when he did any thing, never did it by halves, was unbounded in his preparations. Such wagon-loads Of the delicious wild fruit of the country, as had to be made into sweetmeats and jellies! Such quantities of grapes as Were gathered for wine! The country was ransacked to engage butter and honey, fowls, game, and every good thing ; While Minnie’s mother consulted long beforehand an old cook- book which had been preserved amid the family odds and ends for years. One day the cousins, finding the October weather too witch- ~ spp laa Aang ponies saddled for an excur. “Which way now ?’ asked Mr Willard. ~ comiicbooks.com