The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 188: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. 185 After a time Monsieur Rouselli spoke, saying: ‘*T cannot, sir, say that 1 am totally unprepared for this blow. The very fact that for so long 1 had heard nothing, ought to have been, and indeed was, a sufficient warranty of his death. But still, let us anticipate as closely as we may, such a circum- stance in connection with those we love; the fact itself comes upon us with as great a shock as if the mind had never dwelt spon it. Tell me of his death, and what he said, and what he id. ‘‘Nay, sir,” interposed Captain Morton, ‘‘ believe me that I speak to you as a sincere friend, when I say to you, why would you seek to know more than that he died, and was placed in the grave by friendly and sympathizing hands? Why seek to har- row your imagination by details which have all terminated in the tomb ?” ‘You are right—you are rigbt,” said Monsieur Rouselli. ‘JT will be content with the amount of grief I bave, without seeking aggravating circumstances for the purpose of adding to it. Only tell me this much. Is there the least doubt of the accuracy of this statement ?”’ ‘* Not the smallest.” ‘*Enough—enough, I—I will not ask more. I am a poor, weak old man now, with no one to whom I can cling, feeling that the bonds of kindred hold them to me. Alas! alas! Even he, as well as my poor son, has gone from me, and I—I am quite desolate, now—quite desolate!” ‘*Not so,”’ said Captain Morton. ‘‘ You forget, sir, in this sudden accession of grief that has come over you, that you had a choice of which you should hear first—the good news which we brought to you, or the bad. You have heard the a Ris ‘‘Ob! what can compensate me for the loss of him whom I loved so well?” ‘¢ Another whom you will love as well, if not better.” ** Another ?” ‘Yes, sir; the child of your son lives,” ‘*My son’s child! the infant who—who—— Bear with me, gentlemen—I am old. You would not mock me?” “On my soul I would not. I tell you that the child whom our son, in. his last moments. on the blood-stained field of aterloo, committed to the care of an English officer, lives, and is one who will compensate you for all evils.” The old man rose, and tottered toward Captain Morton. He took him by the hand, and made an effort to speak, but he could not. Tears came in abundance to his relief; and the captain, who was himself much affected, led him to a chair. **Be composed, sir,” he said; *‘and you shall listen to the eventful story. That child, I assure you on my word of honor, was preserved from the battle-field by him to whose charge your son committed her, and she grew in uty and gentleness to be a blessing to him.” ‘‘ And he—where is he—that noble spirit, who so faithfully fulfilled his trust ?” comicbooks. com