The Land Claim — page 54: what you’re looking at

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

50 THE LAND-CLAIM. they was found in the territory agin, a whipping wouldn't serve em next time.” “J wonder where the rascals hide,” said Allen. “I should think a prairie-country a poor place for horse-thieves.” “ Oh, they find shelter in ravines, and among the bluffs; and then if they git a start with horses they can travel faster than in a wooded country ; and once they git to the river they're - soon over in Iowa. There’s a man owns a mill, down the river a piece, had a splendid pair of horses tuk last week. He was in want of hands, an’ hired a respectable lookin’ feller, that come around wantin’ work. After the feller had stayed about a week, he got tired of work an’ left; an’ that night, both the horses was stole from the stable. That feller got off, an’ sold the horses in east Iowa. He'll be comin’ back one of these days, an’ mebbe not have such good luck next time.” * Never mind about horse-thieves, Silas. Dinner is on the table, and I’m afraid it is spoiled, it has waited so long already.” . “Waal, Mary, we’re comin’; and if the dinner isn’t spoiled we'll just spoil it for you in short order. Allen, you may wait on the little girl here. I'm gittin’ so old I’m not perlite enough fer waitin’ on pretty girls any more.” The “ little girl,’ seemed welt pleased to be helped out to dinner on Allen’s arm; nor did her escort seem at all reluc- tant. The flowers and the cordial indicated her place at the table, while Allen was assigned one opposite. “ Mr. Mauvais sent Alicia some wine this morning,” said Mrs. Wyman to her husband in explanation of the “ bottle "— a piece of furniture which was not common on their table. A certain sort of consciousness made the young girl look at Allen to see how he took the announcement. He was look- ing straight at her, with an expression which she did not understand, but which chilled and pained her. She was so sure that his opinion must be correct about every thing, that her heart immediately sunk with a sense of having done something very wrong. Her eyes drooped, and her fine spirits quite fled away. Seeing her so downcast, Mrs. Wyman sup- posed that she was thinking of her father’s probable displeas- ure, and proceeded to mention it, as the best way of setting her at ease. Commiclooolkks.com