Beadle's New Dime Novels, No. 49 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

THE PERILS OF THE PRAIRIE. 27° took for love. In fact, it was love, pure and honest love, but not that deep and holy passion, that binds two hearts in in- separable union—such love as existed between her and kind- hearted Frank Harwood. Mabel presided over her father’s house, for her mother had deen dead several years, and these early responsibilities—im cluding the care of a younger brother—had much to do in developing all those noble, womanly traits so fur in advance of her years. | On the afternoon previous to the night on which our story opened, Mabel sa®ulone in her father’s clin. Her futher, and all the meén of the settlement, had gone away on a holiday hunting-excursion, and her little brother, Willie, of ten years, was out playing in the woods. Tlie golden sun- light streaming through the vine-trellised windows, fell upon her face, which to-day seemed sad and thoughtful. She was not lonesome, for she could have sought the society of her neighbors had she been disposed, but some foreboding seemed to press upon her mind despite her efforts to the contrary. “It is only one of my gloomy days,” she said to herself, “and [ will walk out, and perhaps the sanshine will dispel the gloominess from my spirits.” _ Donning her hat, she went out into the open air. She aid not notice the direction she had taken, nor where slie was, un- tilshe was half a mile from the cabins, out upon the green, billowy prairie. The wind was blowing softly from tie south, laden with the perfume of wild-flowers, and turning about that it might fam her heated brow, the maiden fownd herself face to face with a young man who had stolen softly “Why! you here, Mr. Oakley ?” she said, politely, but with some surprise depicted on her face. “Tt is my extreme pleasure to be here at this moment, Mabel,” he replied, with a stile, that was not altogether pleasing to the maiden. . “ Bat I thought you went away with the men this morn» “So I did, Miss Prescott; but, unfortunately, or rather” ortunately, | got separated from them in the woods, and net~ taring to pursue the hunt along, I return to the Post.” : ; ove comicbooks.com ss ~~ ‘ —4 . ete + fret . “i