José — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

12 JOSE. inmates of Apple Farm moved back and forth from room to room, silently and in anxious expectation, for Pepita was very ill. But alas! all poor Joseph’s bright anticipations were doomed to disappoint- ment, and he was very unhappy. The young wife recovered slowly, and when she was again able to stir about, they suffered her to do as she pleased. On the first warm day, Joseph, himself, led Pepita forth into the woods and gath- ered the sweet spring flowers for her. The warm- hearted, impulsive creature embraced her husband, and said: “Jose, 1 intended to make you so happy, but I have failed. Oh, that we were back in Cali- fornia, where I could watch over you, die for you if necessary; where no one spies upon the steps of the Mexican girl who adores you!” These words seemed to express the feelings that thenceforth dominated her. No one interfered with her in any way, and when she chose to keep at some domestic work, she was permitted to doso. If she remained absent from the house half a day at a time, she met no inquir- ing looks nor censuring remarks when she re- turned; but upon each countenance there was stamped an expression of painful resignation. Since her daughter’s marriage, Mother Bottcher did the household work alone, despite the increasing hardship of her advancing age. Joseph seemed to redouble his energy in an effort to create relief wherever possible. No one ever discussed the domestic affairs of the family, and things might have gone on in the even tenor of their way had not another German, hailing from the same neighborhood in the old country as Eomichbooks (E(0) m