A Daughter of Maryland — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

A DAUGHTER OF MARYLAND. 61 when a desire I could not overcome caused me to pay a visit to Uncle Frost. You see he was the one connecting link that bound me to the old place. Now he is gone. Aunt Debby I judge is at Sylvania. ”’ ‘Yes. How did you find Graymont?’’ ‘‘Desolate, Miss Lancier. Is“it possible you have never seen the old place of late years?’’ | ““I have not seen it since you went away. A deserted: homestead always gives me the heartache. I suppose I am foolish, but nothing seems so lonesome to me as an aban- doned house. I am never afraid in the forest, but in an old, unoccupied house I am as timid as a bird.’’ ‘‘Graymont is quite in ruins now. Why, the old Granary here hardly looks worse. I did come back with the intention of fixing it up. Perhaps I shall; I cannot tell yet.’’ ‘‘And bring a Northern bride down here to share it with you. 9) ‘* Miss Lanoier—Anurian: as I feel I have a ith to call you for old acquaintance sake—may I ask you a question? Do not blush, for [should have tried to be less abrupt had it not been the great question of my life. But it refers to a matter very near to my heart. Uncle Frost told you his strange story of this old mill?’’ The earnestness as well as the abruptness with which he asked the question confused her, and at a loss what to say, she turned away to delay her reply long enough to speak calmly. ‘‘How beautiful the sunlight falls on yonder forest! How much the variegated foliage looks like a ‘great, green cloud suspended on huge columns. Yes; Uncle Frost told me his story; in fact, he sent for me to come up to hear it, though of course I did not know what he had to tell; else I should not have gone. ”’ ‘‘What did you think of it?’’ he asked eagerly. ‘‘I speak of this freely, Aurian, as I want you to answer me, for you know all about the shadow that hangs over my i ® ae -< , « = sn » - . - 4 $ A A y= = PA < . ’ ] nme | I. | G . ‘ micbooks.com * * -_ G \ 4 ” rk i ss cs. oan te a ei - * f*4 1 oma es Taf ~ oF : “ : a 1 ma ° P A - A in Ce a E = “7 . at Urs ‘a