The Island Bride — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

f= Vue. 4 ee. < 60 | CAST AWAY. “T am tired of this barbarous style of living !’ she had re- marked on more than one occasion. “It is ruining my com- plexion! Oh, dear! dear! I do wish I was in the bosom of my own vaiive land !” j The parson, too, had expressed a wish to return to his native land ; he felt anxious about his flock in the little village church he had prayed for them every night. . Minnie and Harmon were the only members of the party who were contented. Happy in each other’s society, the island seemed to them a perfect paradise. Reading in the eyes of the girl a tender but shy response to the feelings with which she had inspired him, Weldon could no longer bear the thought of living alone. She must, henceforth, be his companion through life, or life would lose every charm for him. The music of her voice, the light of her eyes, the very sound of her elastic step had became almost as necessary to his existence as the air he breathed. It was a clear, starlight night, and our little party were seated in front of their huts, the parson and Weldon a little removed from the rest. The young sailor was speaking to the clergy- man in a low, earnest voice; and the latter would now and then respond with a kind and a benevolent smile. At length Harmon became silent, and, rasing, the parson approached the log upon which Miss Trundle was seated with her niece. “I would like to have little private conversation with you, madam,” he said, and: as Miss Trundle rose, he looked at Minnie and sneezed. : The young girl blushed deeply and seemed confused. “Oh. dear ! dear!” thought the spinster, “ a little private conversation. Can it be? Yes, yes, it must be so; I read it n his eyes; he is going to propose!” He offered her his arm; she accepted it quickly, and they walked slowly toward the beach. As soon as they were there the parson sapped and gently pressed the hand of his companion. “Miss Trundle,” said he, “I presume you are aware of the attachment existing between your niece and the young man who so nobly rescued us from a watery grave,” The spinster uttered alow shriek, started back, and held up her hands, while overy feature expressed horror and consternation. / ° comiclbooks.conm