The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. 59 her blushing features ; “tell me, that the discovery is mutual—that I am not indifferent to you—that you will allow me to protect you from the cold frowns and in- sults of the world, by offering you a home—by changing in time the name of lover for that of husband ?”’ Twice did the agitated girl endeavour to reply to his impassioned declaration—the words faded on her lips. With a confidence which the familiarity of their early years warranted, the blushing Amy hid her face in the bosom of her manly suitor, who felt the warm tears—the proofs of his happiness—fall upon his breast. It was perhaps the most delicious moment of his life. For dearer far than the mtoxicating kiss of beauty, or the triumph of its possession, is the first avowal from woman’s lips to man that he is loved. For a few moments the lovers remained enfolded in the embrace of virtuous love—a love so pure, that the angel who bore to heaven the record of their vows, smiled on them as he winged his flight. Amy was the first to recover from the delirium into which they had been thrown, and gently disengaged herself from his embrace. “Henry,” she faltered, “although in age almost woman, I am but a child in worldly knowledge. Think me not forward for my frankness ; but truth has ever appeared to me more beautiful than deceit, and I am too happy to disguise it—too weak, even if I would. I love you, Henry—from childhood loved you. Qh, did you know,” she added, with a tearful smile, “ how COUN Goo! SS (SO