Between Two Oceans (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 edition. Excerpt: ...and he was inclined to feel angry at the apparent slight put upon himself, as though this little one doubted his word. He argued and explained, but it was of no avail. "Still the little maid would have her way;" till, fortunately, he bethought him of Mr. Ranger's note, written at Panama, which happened to have remained crumpled up in his trouserspocket. This scrap of paper, creased and dirty, the writing on it scarce legible, satisfied the girl where the young fellow's most earnest expostulations and eloquent exhortations had failed. Immediately she brightened up, and said she would be ready to accompany Mrs. Betita on the morrow. She had no love for Colon, and would gladly turn her back on such a hot, stuffy, nasty place. She was now pleased to listen to all that George could tell her about the railway, the beautiful Pacific, and the city of Panama. True to her appointment, Mrs. Betita turned up the next day. She was a merry, dark-eyed little woman, and no one would have imagined, either from her appearance or voice, that she was of English birth. "Ah, my dear " she exclaimed, as she took the child impulsively in her arms. "I have known Mr. Ranger many years; he has been a good, kind friend to my poor husband, and he has been a good, kind friend to me. I will love you for his sake first, and soon I will love you for your own sake. He has told me your sad story, and I do not say I will be a mother to you, but I will try ever so hard to fill her place. You will let me love you, little Lena, will you not?" Such tenderness was irresistible, and in a very few minutes Lena felt herself quite at home with her new-found friend. They chatted merrily together, till George, who had gone out to get instructions from M....