Mezzoni the Brigand — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

MEZZONI THE BRIGAND. 45 tain the funds required for the ransom. Be of good cheer, my dear girl, and all will yet be well. ; ‘“Young Hammond, who has been called to Amer- ica by acable telegram, has generously insisted upon my accepting his entire letter of credit toward your ransom, in the sum of two hundred pounds sterling. Ithink he was sorry to be compelled to leave us at so critical a moment and, indeed, he de- clared, that but for the summary demand from his father, he should remain to offer such aid as he could command under this trying exigency. ‘‘T would send you some personal necessities in the way of clothing, but this is not permitted, my dear Marion, and I can only urge you to bear up courage- ously under this temporary trial. I am about to start for England, and shall dispatch the business of collecting the sum required as soon as it can possibly be done. : ‘“‘“God bless and protect you, my dear daughter. ‘‘Affectionately, MANLIUS BRAY.’’ While she was perusing this welcome letter there was quite a commotion heard at the mouth of the cave, indicating a new arrival, and of course so un- usual a circumstance attracted her notice. The con- finement to which she was subjected did not permit her to see out on the plateau in front of the cave, though the door of her apartment opened very close to the main and only entrance. The woman coming in at that moment to perform some slight domestic service, Marion asked her the cause of the commotion, but she only got in response the customary shake of the head. This had grown to be very aggravating to the prisoner, but she could not start the woman’s tongue by any device. One day she had taken a little golden brooch from her under linen, and tried to bribe the woman to answer some questions she had put to her, but though the servant’s eyes glistened with desire for the pretty Eomichooks.co