José — page 169: what you’re looking at

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

162 JOSE. fate had come to naught—she was again confined in the fort, with apparently no hope but to yield to the dictates of stern necessity. But even this last contemplation she entertained as humbly as though her spirit were forever broken. A short while she lay engrossed in thought, then she attempted to raise herself, but her physical weakness rendered the effort futile. “Hattie!” she called, in a low tone. The house- keeper started up with sudden alacrity. She met Mary’s quiet look and clasped her hands in wonder. “Are you really better, Miss Mary?’ she cried tenderly, hastening to the bedside. “Why, the young gentleman was beginning to feel quite alarmed about you, God bless your hearty consti- tution, no matter though it came near failing you. You mustn’t think hard of old Hattie for saying so, but wasn’t it a little more than a lady commonly risks to run away into the wilderness without pro- tection against wind or weather?” Mary smiled faintly. “Sit down near me, Hattie,” she said, “I would like to know one thing. What happened here after I left?” she continued, as the housekeeper hastened to place her chair close by the bed; “and how did they discover my.trail?” “It happened like so many other things in which the Lord has a hand,” the old lady said, nodding her head; “and all this, it appears to me, was destined to happen in order that everything which at first would not regulate itself might be joined in loving harmony. Well, it was at dinner, yesterday, that you were first missed; McAllister said you were gone longer than an hour and wanted to senda servant out to find you; but the young gentleman Eomichookssco