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Harte, Bret, 1836-1902

"Drift from Two Shores"

Look at him, miss!
Ah, but it's a swate pair ye'd make! (the rascal knew I was a
married man). Ah, miss, if you could see him wroightin' day and
night with such an illigant hand of his own--(he had evidently
believed from the gossip of my servants that I was a professor of
chirography)--if ye could see him, miss, as I have, ye'd be proud
of him."
He stopped out of breath. I was so completely astounded I could
say nothing: the tremendous indictment I had framed to utter as I
opened the door vanished completely. And as the Most Beautiful
Eyes in the Wurruld turned gratefully to mine--well--
I still retained enough principle to ask the ladies to withdraw,
while I would take upon myself the duty of examining into the case
of my friend, the Tramp, and giving him such relief as was
required. (I did not know until afterward, however, that the
rascal had already despoiled their scant purses of three dollars
and fifty cents.) When the door was closed upon them I turned upon
him.
"You infernal rascal!"
"Ah, Captain, and would ye be refusin' ME a carrakther and me
givin' YE such a one as Oi did! God save us! but if ye'd hav' seen
the luk that the purty one give ye.


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