The American Claimant


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excursions rather than business ones in this way, to speak strictly.  
She made jokes with various people. She chaffed the young men pleasantly  
and wittily, as she supposed, and as the rest also supposed, apparently,  
judging by the applause and laughter which she got by her efforts.  
Manifestly she was a favorite with most of the young fellows and  
sweetheart of the rest of them. Where she conferred notice she conferred  
happiness, as was seen by the face of the recipient; and; at the same  
time she conferred unhappiness--one could see it fall and dim the faces  
of the other young fellows like a shadow. She never "Mistered" these  
friends of hers, but called them "Billy," "Tom," "John," and they called  
her "Puss" or "Hattie."  
Mr. Marsh sat at the head of the table, his wife sat at the foot. Marsh  
was a man of sixty, and was an American; but if he had been born a month  
earlier he would have been a Spaniard. He was plenty good enough  
Spaniard as it was; his face was very dark, his hair very black, and his  
eyes were not only exceedingly black but were very intense, and there was  
something about them that indicated that they could burn with passion  
upon occasion. He was stoop-shouldered and lean-faced, and the general  
aspect of him was disagreeable; he was evidently not a very companionable  
person. If looks went for anything, he was the very opposite of his  
wife, who was all motherliness and charity, good will and good nature.  
All the young men and the women called her Aunt Rachael, which was  
another sign. Tracy's wandering and interested eye presently fell upon  
one boarder who had been overlooked in the distribution of the stew.  
He was very pale and looked as if he had but lately come out of a sick  
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