The Land Claim — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

THE BOUQUET AND ITS GIVER. 47 “ He has been so kind! I wish I could see him, and thank him, Mrs. Wyman.” “JT guess you can,” replied the kind woman, with a beaming smile, “for he is coming here to dinner. Well, I'll just put something under the rockers, to hold your chair back, so you can rest; and then I must go and see about my baked meats and pudding.” Left to herself, Alicia passed the hour in a dream between hope and fear, balancing in her mind the pros and eons of her father’s case as she knew them, and trying to find some. hith- erto overlooked grownd of confidence. It had got to be an old employment—one which had occupied her thoughts ever since her head had been clear enough to think at all—and was to-day pretty much the same that it had been yesterday, or any day before. This constant anxious thought had lent a touching expression of melancholy to her wan and delicate countenance, as well as a sober grace to her manners, beyond her years. But the fresh, childlike heart was nowise differ- ent to what it had been; only if possible more dependent, and more hungry for sympathy than ever before. She had been a long time lying back in her chair, silent, except to answer Mrs. Wymap’s inquiries concerning how she felt, as the kind woman bustled in and out on the important business of lier dinner. A slight feeling of weariness was be- ginning to act as a depressant upon the brighter hopes of the morning, and an occasional tear moistened the drooping lashes of her half-closed eyes. In the midst of this despondency, & sudden impulse of gratitude swelled her heart toward one who had been so unfailingly kind to her under all circumstances, and seizing the bouquet which Allen had that morning sent her, she kissed the flowers, over and over. _ “Oh, I love you so much!—so much !” she murmured, She did not observe that any one had entered at the open door, nor know why such a glorious light shone in Allen's eyes, as he a moment later greeted her with a courteous good- morning, and asked in the gentlest manner after her health. Like a nervous little invalid as she was, she went from smiles to tears, and tears to smiles in the most capricious manner, without being able to make any rational reply to his inquiry. Comicloolkks.conn -~