The Island Bride — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

46 CAST AWAY, directed a sharp, warning glance at the young people behind her, “ perfectly delightful. Those raysof light appear like so many bright darning-needles among the leaves.” She squeezed his arm as she spoke, and the parson, with & meek but nervous twitch of the eyebrows, looked toward Squint and Bolt to ascertain whether they had noticed the movement. He was much relieved, however, in discovering that they were sauntering off in an opposite direction. H noticed, too, that Weldon and Minnie were now almost hiddet ; from his view by tall clumps of shrubbery ; in fact, they pass- ed from his sight even while he gazed. “Tt strikes me,’ said Harmon, smiling upon his homely com- panion, “ that your aunt is a little too careful of you.” “Tt is her way,” replied Minnie, “and I am sorry that I was ever left in her charge. She is very cross and disposed to be tyrannical. Be she has her good qialities too, and J think she likes me.” “She must like you,” he replied. “I don’t see how she could help it.” “Why ?” inquired Minnie, smiling. “ Because you are so lovely,” promptly replied Harmon, She looked pleased and then laughed. “That might have the opposite effect with some women, ” she said. “Yes but a woman who would allow herself to: ‘be’ in- fluenced in that way, would not be worthy of g pane friendship ; for you, I know, could never have such feelings.” “You are right,” she answered. “ One of my best friends, when I was at ‘home, was a girl of unrivaled beauty. A silly woman would have been completely spoiled by the many com- pliments she received from the other sex. ‘She was a favorite | with them-all; her disposition was kind and affectionate ; she was a noble girl 1 in every respect. In fact, I think that even had she been plain, her many amiable qualities would have attracted everybody with whom she associated.” “JT don’t doubt it,’ answered Harmon. “ Many women think that mere beauty is the principal attraction with our sex ; but they make a great mistake. Heart,” he added, empha- sizing the word strongly, “heart is what we seek. A farge heart, like the sun, diffuses light and warmth throughout the COmiclOoks-COm