Laura Brayton — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

114 LAURA BRAYTON. where even the wretch who induced you to leave your home dared not come!” “Eldridge Putnam is no wretch!” cried poor Laura, indignantly, not seeing the cunning trap which Sharp laid to get from her the name of the one who had helped her out of his clutches. “There, you hear, sir, how she attempts to defend the unprincipled wretch who decoyed her from my house. Had I not instantly, on discovering her ab- sence, put a watch on him, she would doubtless have been his victim ere this time. But, poor, deluded girl, you shall be protected now. Come, Laura, come, I will forgive you all; come back to your home, and to the care of your fond old guard- ian. I promised your dying mother never to desert her helpless child, and I will not!” And the hypocritical wretch actually drew out his dirty cotton handkerchief to conceal his tears. Mrs. Glenn now, attracted by the noise, made her appearance. With eyes streaming in tears poor Laura sobbed out: “Oh, Mrs. Glenn, do save me from that dreadful man!” And she pointed to Sharp, whose eyes, dried in an instant by the fire of anger, flashed a baleful hate, as he said: “My good woman, no interference on your part is necessary. Iam the lawful guardian of this for- ward girl, have a warrant to take her with me, and an officer to enforce my claim.” “Oh, how I wish my Sammy was here! He’d know what to do,” said the - old lady, in great dis- tress. C ° m- ~ comicbooks = 4 “0 Be ae diy a