The Wrong Man — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

~ - withered leaves. Throwing his long legs across ; <3 Prank ihe maiden before neste his into the flanks e forest. — « ; THE WRONG MAN. tales told of the lawless life of the hunter which had al rendered him an object of abhorrence; and this feeling had been aggravated into apprehension by his morose bearing and certain: vague threats which he was said to have uttered since the rejection of his suit. Had the nature of the ground permit- ted, she would gladly have turned aside from the path, so as to avoid the necessity of meeting. But this was hardly practica- vie, and she stepped quickly forward, intending to pass him with only a slight salutation, when her purpose was frustrated by his laying bis hand rudely and with a strong grasp on her shoulder. ““ No, no, Miss Lucy, you don’t git cl’ar this time !” said Over- ton, his small, keen eyes twinkling with an expression that made ber shudder. “‘ What is your purpose, Mr. Overton? Let go your hand—re- lease me, sir !—I have business—my father—” “ Your father—ha ! ha! he’s safe enough. Hugh has took good care of that.” “ Merciful heaven !” exclaimed Lucy, “ am I the object, then, of premeditated outrage ?” “ There’s no time for talking now, gal; you must go with me, that’s the upshot of the business. No harm is meant, if you be- have quiet—no worse harm than Ley you the wife of a Ken- tuck’ ranger, and so keep you from the d——d Yankee varmint that’s been cavorting round you.” “ Unhand me, Edward Overton,” exclaimed the terrified Lucy, her sweet voice trembling with agitation, as she vainly strug- gled to release herself from the strong grasp of the hunter. Inhand me, I say !—you will repent this—the house is not so distant but that my screams—” But before she had time to put her half-uttered threat into ex- ecution (though it would have been cf noavail had it been other- wise,) her mouth was nel stopped by the hunter, who hastily bound a handkerchief tightly round her face, so as to prevent utterunce. Then raising her in his arms as easily as a child might its waxen doll, he struck into the woods, and hurried along at a pace that seemed not at all impeded by the ineffectual struggles of the maiden. In her efforts to release herself from his arms, Lucy’s hat had fallen to the ground, and her long au- purn hair, freed from confinement, floated round her i features, hightening the expression of terror which they wore. | Her bosom, too, partly bared by her kerchief being torn from her neck, rose and fell with a quick, panting motion, which be _ trayed the tumultuous fears which agitated her heart. Thehun- ter paused not to recover the fallen garments, but striding rapid- ly forward, soon came to a place where a horse, tied to a tree, Was cropping the scattered blades that sprouted up between the animal, and set off at a round gallop ’ a ~ ‘ ee -