Darke Darrell, the Boy Detective — page 182: what you’re looking at

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

DARKE DARRELL. Darke proposed to Leotine, and was accepted. His heart beat faster when she told him that she had loved him in her girlhood, and through all those intervening years. Ihe summer passed, but she would not name the day. ‘‘Papa must be consulted,” was her invariable reply. CHAPTER XXXVII. A MATTER OF PREFERENCE. In the fall Mr. Pedro Cassandra returned from Europe. In reply to a letter from Darke, he agreed to grant him an interview. When the two gentlemen met, they surveyed each other quietly and keenly, each surprised at the great change in - each other. _ Darke was no longer a beardless boy, but instead a tall, well-formed, dignified man, with hirsute face, clear, calm 173 eyes, commanding bearing, self-possessed manners; he was tasteful and elegant in attire, correct in speech, honest in purpose, and sufficiently conscious of his worthiness. Mr. Cassandra had failed very much; a residence under his native skies had simply prolonged his life; he was _ stooped, -his hair was quite gray, his skin was yellow and shriveled, his cheek bones quite prominent; he coughed, moved restlessly about, was easily disturbed, lost his patience on the slightest provocation, and evidently was near the close of his earthly career. He shook hands with Darkea little stiffly and asked him to be seated. ‘‘T think that I can guess the nature of your errand,” not waiting for any exchange of civilities. ‘‘T have come to ask the hand of your daughter in marriage.” ‘Most likely,” assented Darke. (C(O) im Cc JOO <S (E(0)