The Land Claim — page 71: what you’re looking at

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

INTERVIEW AT THE PRISON. 67 “Indeed, you spoil me with kindness,” said Alicia, trying to smile. ‘Everybody pets me so much I have got to be quite a baby, and will soon be good for nothing, at this rate.” “ Well, it does folks good to have something that they can -pet; that’s my view of the case. There’s nothing makes our hearts so dry and hard as not having something to make much of. If Silas wasn’t an affectionate sort of a man I should have been dead of pining for my young ones, I do believe, long ago. But he comforts me up when I get to grieving, and so we two old folks have to pet one another, ‘cause we've nothing else we can love. Do have a little more coffee, for you haven't touched any thing substantial.” Alicia declined, however, any attempts to make her take a more ample meal, and set about preparing for her visit to her father. She was scarcely ready when the trader’s handsome blacks trotted up to the door, and that gentleman announced himself at her service. The ride to the sheriffs house was almost a silent one, each party being occupied with thoughts which were not entirely communicable. When Mr. Mauvais handed the young girl from the carriage, he was struck by her exceeding paleness, and inquired very anxiously if she were ill. Being assured that she felt as well as usual, he left her at the door of her father’s apartment, with a profound bow, and the information that he was pre- pared to await her convenience to escort her back to Mrs. Wyman’s. As the door opened to admit her, the child’s heart beat so tumultuously that it was with difficulty she could stand. At one glance her eye took in the bare room, the manacled limbs, the pale, stern face, wasted by inaction of the physical and overaction of the mental powers. With a low, thrilling ery, she sprung forward, and sunk down at his feet. She laid her face upon his knees, and wept upon his hands, using every affectionate and penitent expression to win from him a tender word; but he was as silent and unmoved as on the day of the examination. It seemed as if the sight of his child’s face recalled the bitter resentment of that day afresh. “T have not sent for you,” he said, coldly, “to listen to comliclooks.com