José — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

68 JOSE. to think at present, may you have come whence you will. I will not strain my mind endeavoring to solve an inexplicable mystery, but will accept it—ac- cept it as I have accepted her whole being, brightly rising like a meteor, only to disappear again, leav- ing no trace behind—inspiring the heart with fond hopes and leaving the ungratified——” Again he paused. “I am certainly the most romantic factor in the great business world of Germany. Like friend Green I would ascribe it to the prairie air but for——” and he reopened his pocket-book: “but for the most unimpeachable evidence of the reality of things.” A short distance beyond the train had safely forded the canon, and the white line of wagons was again turning into the trail, while Baumann slowly headed for a point, in advance, at which he knew he must meet the caravan, his mind busy witha thousand strange conjectures. The ribbon with the small, gold cross, which had so wrought upon his feelings, was a bracelet which he remembered having seen on the wrist of the girl who, for a memorable quarter-hour, had rested on his bosom. He had closely observed the rosette at the time and well remembered the bewitching contrast it formed to her soft, white arm. He knew every fold of the ribbon, but especially this small, gold cross, which constituted an ornament as odd in design as it was rare. He could not be deceived, but how came it here? The train had meanwhile approached. Baumann had remounted his horse, but he rode by the side of the wagons like one ina dream, until he was sud- denly startled by Green’s hearty laugh at his very back, EGomichookssco