José — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

158 JOSE. appeared on the threshold. She measured the ap- plicant with a quick, treacherous glance, inspecting every detail of her appearance. Mary repeated her request, although the woman’s face inspired her with a revulsion almost greater than the sight of the man. “You may come in,” the woman replied, in plain English, continuing to scan the figure of the belated wayfarer; “you won’t be able to reach the settlement to-night, however, nor to-morrow. It’s on the other side of the river, and you can’t cross that, after this rain, short of twenty-four hours. Pedro!” she called, addressing some one within the house; “stable the horse.” On the other side of the river! That fully ex- plained to her all the difficulties she had had to contend with in her wild ramble. From what Hattie had said she had formed an idea of her own respecting the location of the settlement and had never thought that it might be on the opposite side of the river. She quickly realized that she must now yield to the force of circumstances, at least temporarily. She could not go out into the storm again, with night coming on apace; and despite a strong aversion to the place and the people, she had no alternative but to trust her safety to the only shelter to be had in the great wilderness. The pony, too, appeared to share her feeling of reluctance; he resisted the efforts of the Mexican to lead him away until the young girl caressingly and with a light slap induced him to go. With some hesitation Mary entered the room. “Sit down, miss, and make yourself at home,” said the woman, having locked the door. A shudder convulsed the frame of the fugitive. The woman’s voice had a harsh, grating sound Eomichooks co m