A Daughter of Maryland — page 170: what you’re looking at

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

7 7 » ¥: f a ttathc a = ** % pee en Le eee rere AY ty Fie ae iw bi AL A DAUGHTER OF MARYLAND. 14% where they went the soft earth was carpeted with ane- mones, blue lupines, pink honeysuckles or beds of fairy flax, the crushed blossoms sending into the air a perfume that lingered after the fragile leaf had been destroyed. Familiar with every mossy path and every fragrant dell, the little party flitted hither and thither on their pleasant quest, soon forgetting the cares overhanging them. Finally the lengthening shadows warned them that it was time to start homeward, and Aurian was about to call her companions to her side for that purpose, when the steady clatter of hoof-strokes sounded clearly on the scene. Peering out from the depths of the woods she discovered a strange horseman coming up the turnpike at a smart gallop. As he came nearer she could see by his dust-brown appearance, and the foam-flecked condition of his horse that he had been keeping up his present headlong gait for a long distance. In a moment he swept past them, and the next he dashed furiously into the grounds at Sylvania. ‘‘What can he want?’’ exclaimed Aurian, while her companions gathered about her. ‘‘I fear he bears no good news. Let us hasten to the manor.’’ - Major Lancier was not to be seen when they got to the manor, and it was an hour later before Aurian saw her father, who before he spoke to her ordered Oak to be saddled and bridled at once. ‘‘What has happened, father? Whither are you going ~ now ?’” ‘‘Be brave, my daughter; keep a sharp watch over the old place while Iam gone. Summons has come for me to gird on my sword, and I cannot disobey it. The land of Lee and Marion is once more in danger and I should be unworthy of their inheritance did I not-defend it now as they did in the days of ’76.’’ comic 900 OR SF ess eer) he i ee + at 4 a E -an e t bo Fy Bi ee ee MS FE OR A a uN wii Se at c < pe gt EI eo tes ae ay, Peo ee Pete PFN D Cera ae " cS co toes