The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. 127 acd iniquitous schemer. There’s no act of villainy that he will not commit, and cause others to partake in it.” ‘*-You hear her wild incoherency of speech,” said the mendi- cant. ‘Can anything be more palpable ?” The landlady looked puzzled, and knew not what to say, but she shook her head, saying, as she did so: ‘“‘Tam truly sorry to see you so, and will do what I can for you; but you had better be quiet, and you will not be hurt, I am sure.” ‘*No,” said the mendicant, ‘‘it is useless to attend to her; but come along. I'll tell you what, just toplease her I have had her before three justices already, and they have been soangry at me that I should not like to try a fourth. Poor thing, if I thought she was at all to be blamed, I don’t know what Ishould not do.” ‘*Oh, we have all our parts to play,” said the landlady, as she left the room; ‘‘ and some’s more unpleasant than others.” ‘‘ And mine’s one of them, I assure you,” said the mendicant, as he locked the door carefully, and put the key into his pocket. They both descended the stairs, the mendicant entering the travelers’ room, and the landlady taking the route.to the kitchen. In an hour or two the repast was ready, ard the mendicant was summoned to enjoy it in company with the landlord and his wife. Mabel’s share was carried to her room, and she partook of it in silence and in tears. The landlord having eaten himself into a state of repletion, though he assured his guest that it was a very abstemious meal indeed, he fell into a lethargic slumber, from which he only awoke a little before the time appointed for the departure of his est. att seemed almost a miracle to see him wake to animation, as if he were some piece of clock-work, and had been wound up ee see a time, and when that was out, he suddenly awoke from is sleep. The landlady had contrived to get some tea ready for the sake of the poor mad young woman, as she called her, and of that Mabel seemed most grateful. ‘**T don’t blame you,” said Mabel to her, as she was about leav- ing the place. ‘‘I cannot blame you for your want of any feel- ing of humanity toward your own sex; but I lament that cir- cumstances should appear in such a light to you, that you should credit what he says, in preference to myself. Did you know how I have been dragged away from friends and home, you wculd pity me! Heaven above knows where I am being carried, and that by one, too, who pretends to be my own father.” ** Ah!” said the mendicant to the landlady, ‘‘it is a sad sight.” ‘‘Poor thing, poor thing!” said the landlady, with a tear in her eye; ‘‘ be as gentle with her as you can.” “J will—good-evening.” “ Good-bye,” said thelandlord. ‘If youcome this way again, give a call.” “‘T will, you may depend,” replied the mendicant; who, imme- diately he had secured Mabel in the saddle, mounted himself, &sifl was by her side ia an instant, and rode gently down the comicbooks. com