The Island Bride — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

3 m7 44 CAST AWAY. ‘ ~ * . ba . rs “You are nervous, madam. Your imagination must have deceived you,” said the parson, gently disengaging himself from the spinster’s grasp. ‘“ To set your mind at ease, however,” he added, hopping to one side to escape the clutch of Miss Trundle’s outstretched hand, “I will go and examine the rocks |” 7 fle was followed by Harmon and Squint. They searched the hollows and crevices in the rock and the shrubbery beyond but could see nothing of the “ brown cap.” — They discovered, however, upon the top of the rugged elevation, a large leaf, of a dark yellow color, which, seen from the spot occupied by the spinster, might haye been mistaken by her excited imagina- tion, for the article of which she had spoken. “Isn’t this what you saw, madam?” shouted Trust, point ing to the leaf. “Oh, dear, oh dear! I don’t know, but I think not. I only gave it one glance; but I feel pretty certain it was a brown cap! Still it may only have been that leaf. I hope so, lam sure. I should certainly die if it was really a brown cap !” “Ay! ay! it’s pretty sartain now this is what scared her,” cried Squint; “ it’s astonishin’ how skeptical she is; a mis- takin’ every thing for a man!” “ Which,” said Bolt, who had joined them, “ is parfectly nat’ral, I suppose, considerin’ that she seems to have been ‘ brought up in the fear of every man exceptin’ parsons, which: kind never wears brown caps, nor goes ’round in the bushes a-cuttin’ up pranks to scare wimmen.” The men had by this time descended the rock and were ap- - preaching the two females. Miss Trundle darted forward, anc oleying an impulse which it was evident she could not resist grasped the parson’s hand. “What should I do, if it was not-for you ?” she exclaimed «My nature, which is of the tender, shrinking kind, would wither and perish but for your presence. Ah! parson, you are one of those in whom our sex can place the utmost confidence. Oh, dear! oh, dear ! only to see how resolutely you advanced to examine that dreadful rock—how quickly your penetration discovered the real cause of my alarm! How can I express _ tay gratitude for your gallant behavior!” 30 ¥ | ; Cconmiclbooks. conn