Beadle's Dime Novels No. 96: Little Moccasin — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

“LBAVE-TAKING. | ~ 67 ‘Gage felt a burning desire to find out the reason; the true reason, and ‘had his suspicions ; but, knowing with whom ‘he had to deal, forbore all questioning, though he still continued his expostulations, trying to persuade the mysterious man to stay with them, at’ least for a few weeks longer; or if not weeks, days, till at last he found that he was waking suspicions in the mind of the major, and ‘that, with such ‘a solemn and settled purpose it were idle for him to contend farther. “Well, if you must! ro,” said’ he, at’ last, as’ the major rose up after their long ‘conference, and ‘drew the’ leathern belt tighter about his waist, 'as if’ preparing for serious work—* tell me if there is any thing we can do for you?” : “ Nothing—no human ‘help can be of tse’ to’ me,’ Ihave an’ errand on my ¢onscietice, which’ T have too long neglected. Unwilling to do it—afraid even to think of it—I have been loitering here in ‘this pléasant. company, in’ the vain hope that, if I could only’ manage’ to’ sleep ‘o’ nights and keep em- ployed in the daytinie; the burden might fall away of. itself, or bé lightened. But no—it has only grown ‘the heavier for my resting on the way ; and now I must-on, like the prophet of old, thovight” an angel of hee me were standing’ in’ my path. »” rf my SOM lw ‘More and more sdtontitted at au Vedritie snd Dtekhes of the man,'so much ‘above all. he had expected of him, ‘and greatly disturbed. by his looks, which ‘were ‘almost threatening at times, so that he was niore than once reminded of the con- troversy with Perry, Gage: desisted from aly sas ‘Gites- tioning, and offered him his hand. ‘The thajor grasped it between - oth of his, and a mo- ment or two, seemed to be choking. © ) “Ouptain Gage,” said he ‘at last, in a eis oates, “you must bid good-by to the men for me—and especially to Perry. Give what explanation you please. of ‘my sudden ‘departure, but, above all, assure’ them; if we should néver meet again, that I shall never forget their kindness. They are manly fel- lows; and there is not one of the’ whole, whom I do not look upon‘as'a brother, or at’ least, ax an-old school-fellow. © And now, good-by |—furewell, my triend~allow ‘me to call: you so—don’t forget’ me, and if nothing Rapes; you mey hear of me again before'the winter is through— | connicloooks. conn