Laura Brayton — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

eee LAURA BRAYTON. 77 table. And then she said she would go to her room to fix up a little, and comb her hair, and she would come back to sit by Sammy’s side and work. What a wave of honest pride rolled out from the fireman’s great, warm heart, as he turned to Put- nam when she left the room, and said: “TIsn’t she nice? And she is just as good as she looks. She is sweeter than all the oranges that ever grew. If it wasn’t for her and mother here, I’d be like the rest of the boys, a throwin’ myself away onrum and dominoes, but I’m clear o’ them, thank Heaven!” A sudden thought seemed to enter the mind of Putnam at this moment, and observing that Mon- sieur Maret had got engaged with the old lady ina conversation on the merits of snuff, which he used inveterately, the young man asked Sammy in a low tone, if there were any other rooms to let in that house. “T want to find,” said he, “a nice, quiet place, safe from intrusion, for a young lady who has been and is being cruelly persecuted. And if. she could be under the protection and friendly.care of such a good, kind woman as your mother and your young friend, Annie, it would be just the home she needs at present.” Sammy looked long and earnestly right into the eyes of Eldridge Putnam. The returning gaze so clearand confident, seemed to satisfy him, for he said : “I know you wouldn’t impose nbihing less pure, than she is on my Annie, sir, for you are a man in spite of your broadcloth and diamonds. Annie has a big room and she can have another bed put into it, and your friend will be as safe here as 1f she was Gomicbooks (ele) ,