The Land Claim — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

| DINNER. 49 «“ There, little girl,” said he, “you need not be so grateful to me; it is Providence has done it.” . “ At all events,” she returned, “ you are God’s messenger to me” of | : “ Why, good-morning, Mr. Allen, I didn’t know you had come in. Don’t you think our young lady is getting along first-rate! Just excuse me; [ll be back again in a minute ;” and Mrs. Wyman disappeared as soon as she had appeared. The good woman wanted to give Allen a chance to move a little further away from Alicia, without any burry or embar- rassment—am opportunity he availed himself of, however, with some reluctance. But, wherever he moved or whatever he _did, Alicia’s eyes followed him constantly, with a pleased, admiring expression, very flattering to the natural vanity of a young man. ~ : rival ; “ Your ‘young lady,’ Mrs. Wyman, has been making a great lion of me,” he said to the constable’s wife on her reappear- ance; “she thinks I am a very wonderful fellow, and) has made me quite vain of myself.” | “J guess it won’t do any hurt for her to think well of you, Mr. Allen. Some folks ain’t easily spoiled.” . * “Thank you. If flattery gives a man a good appetite his dinner, I shall be able to do justice to yours, Mrs. Wyman.” “Well, 'm glad your appetite is ready, for the dinner is; but Mr. Wyman hasn't come. He shouldn't have been late, “No, a man shouldn’t be late on. his wedding-day,” cried the constable, caming in quietly, and saluting his wife on one cheek. “I reckon I wasn’t late twenty-seven years ago this blessed Thursday—was I, wife ?” ; “If you had been,” returned Mrs Wyman, “my name would not have been Mary Wyman.” . With a very soft “ Hullo there!” the constable greeted his inval by way of welcoming her to the parlor. Then he shook hands with Allen, and afterward with her. - “She looks right smart, now, considerin’, don’t she, Allen ? Only her’hair is rather’a ‘short crop. — She looks as if she'd been in the hands of the thief-whippers. There was three of them *féllers ‘catched up at Elktown yesterday, that got a whipping and their heads shaved ; an’ was told that if ever ~ comiclsooks.conn _—