The Land Claim — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

64 THE LAND-CLAIM. have good hopes yet ;, but your father‘may be doubtful, and may be prevailed upon as I said. And now, dear Alicia, to provide against what neither of us desire, let us talk about the new name. What does the little girl say to being called my wife? Does that sound so shocking ?” He was holding her face to the moonlight, to read his answer in the eloquent eyes; but the silken fringes drooped over them, and ‘she turned her fuce to the shadow of his ‘breast. | | Speak, darling? I know you are too young—and that you are afraid to take the responsibility of deciding for yourself. Under other circumstances I would not have asked you to do so; but now you should have some better protection than such as you will get from chance-friends. I loye you very dearly ; so much that I should be reluctant to marry you, at your age, for fear you would outgrow your affection for me as you be- game more éxperienced in judging of men—did not your ‘peculiar position seem to render it most prudent for us both— that is, provided that you do love me well enough to be my wife. Are you afraid tovtell me your thoughts, dear Alicia— dear little wife?” “ Will you not say one word to me ?” he whispered, kissing the white brow, and the beautiful silken rings of hair that encircled it, in place of the lost flowing curls. “Am I only yout brother then—and will -you not be my girl-wife? Will you go away to school, and leave me forever 7—tell me, dear,” he said, unclasping his arms, and allowing her to free her- self. “Mr. Allen,” she said, in a wavering voice, and with’ pale cheeks looking pallid in wenerien sername ray I dare not ae my father; I must not.” “Phen yon donot love me!” broke in Allen, salt emoler of passionate nN Sara proach, | “T think I do.» Ob, Mr. Allen, I know I do!—better than any one in the world. But I can not do any thing without my father’s knowledge and consent. If he gives me away to Mr. Mauvais, I can not help gg must go, if it breaks my heart in doing so.” ; iststuhes! be gated Allen, his former confident conmmicloooks.corn