Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 324: what you’re looking at

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

THE ENAMOURED SQUIRE 307 the chains which she had forged around the heart of George Hawkshaw, and if he had ever hesitated to propose himself as her husband, — which assuredly he had not, — he could no longer have possibly hesitated now. “Miss Farefield,’’ he said, after the exchange of some casual and indifferent observations, “‘ I have made up my mind—I have determined — to — to speak to you this morning on a subject closely regarding my happiness — ’’ ‘“Indeed, Mr. Hawkshaw,’’ she observed, murmuringly, at the same time affecting the most delicious confusion. “Yes, Miss Farefield — Juliana— dear Juliana,’ he exclaimed, gazing upon her in rapture, “‘ can you not com- prehend me? I am not a man accustomed to make flatter- ing speeches — I am frank-hearted and ingenuous, — such I believe is my nature, — but if you will accept the hand, as you already possess the love, of one who will make your happiness the study of his life, that individual now kneels at your feet.”’ And suiting the action to the word, George Hawkshaw did fall upon one knee, and taking the lady’s hand, he pressed it to his hps. She murmured some words which were half- choked by the enthusiastic feelings of triumph and success which agitated in her bosom, and which the unsophisticated admirer attributed to a maidenly confusion. Encouraged and delighted by those few murmuring words, and by the manner in which they were uttered, he started up from his knee, and gazing with renewed rapture upon her downcast blushing countenance, he said, ‘‘ Tell me, Juliana, tell me will you, be mine? ’’ “JT will,’ she responded, still faintly and tremulously, and Hawkshaw, flinging his arms around her, strained her superb form to his breast, at the same time covering her warm, glowing cheeks with fervid caresses. “You will be mine? ”’ he said, in exultant tones. ‘‘ This is the fulfilment of the dearest hope I ever cherished in my lite. Oh, Juliana, you cannot conceive the joy that you have poured into my heart! And let me tell you that it is the heart of an honest man which you possess, — a heart that never loved before, — a heart that is yours, and yours only. Give me your arm, dear Juliana, and let us walk here together for a little while. I feel that I could become eloquent to a degree in promising all that I will do to ensure your happi- Gomicdoo 6S (EO)