The Land Claim — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

THE PROMISE. 65 manner quite gone. “Do you think your father has a right to sacrifice you, on the verge of your happy womanhood ? I can not think so.” “Oh, I do not know. I only know that I will never act in opposition to my father; never—no, never!” she cried, bursting into tears. “Must I give you up then, my own darling? Sha 1?” and once more she was clasped to her lover's breast, “No, oh no, do not give me up yet! I can not do without you; and perhaps,” she added, with a sudden smile of hope- fulness, “my father may approve.” “ And in that case Alicia consents to be my wife at some future day ?” 3 “Tf then Mr. Allen will have me, yes,” she whispered, so close to his mouth that his lips met hers at the last word. In that breathless silence, so eloquent of happiness, which ever succeeds the lovers’ first mutual kiss, sat the young man and maiden for a few blissful moments; till swift-winged thought, returning to their present situation, aroused them to the recollection of Mrs. Wyman’s charge concerning late hours. “ Well, I must take my promised wife back to her guardian —or she will not trust me to take care of her again. I will see your father to-morrow, and get before Mr. Mauvais if I can; so keep up your spirits, dearest—the Frenchman shall not carry you off, if I can prevent it.” | The walk homeward was performed by feet all unconscious of motion or distance. Only two enraptured spirits had passed over that space, to part with reluctance at the constable’s door. comlclbooks.com “-_-