The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 243: what you’re looking at

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

240 THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. too sudden an accession of joy. But you cannot deceive me; you have found her.” ‘‘Be composed, my dear sir—be composed. You are right; be calm. She shall come to you.” ‘“‘Now, now—at once. A moment lost is much to me, for I am old. Oh, fetch her to me—fetch ber tome. My own beau- tiful child, sole relic of my dear son, where is she?—where is she? Sir, do not trifle with my feelings; fetch her to me; oh, let me clasp her in my arms. Iam as one lingering only for a brief space on the grave’s brink, and before I sink into its recesses, let me, I implore you, once look upon her!” ‘You shall, sir—you shall indeed.” ‘‘ Now, now.” ‘¢ Control your feelings for a short time. [I will bring her to you. She is close at hand, sir. You, doubtless, heard a carriage stop in the street below. I will now make no disguises with you. We have found her, and she is as anxious to come to your arms as vou can be to receive her.” As be spoke these words, Captain Morton rose and left the room. He made good speed down to the door, and looking into the carriage, he said; ‘‘Mabel, your grandfather is prepared to see you.” “‘T come—I come,” said Mabel, as by the assistance of the captain she sprung lightly from the vehicle, being closely fol- lowed by Henry. “‘ Qh, sir,” said Rafferty, ‘‘ it’s a murdering shame.” ‘What, Rafferty—what ?” ‘Why, sir, there was as nice a bit of colloguing, sir, going on as you’d wish to hear of, sir, in the carriage, sir; a kind of courting, your honor. T’ll tel) you al] about it another time. It’s Master Henry, sir, it is.” Captain Morton shook his bead at Rafferty, but made no reply to what he insinuated. He knew quite sufficient of the state of Henry’s affections to make him receive Rafferty’s information as anything but doubtful, and one of the hopes nearest to his heart was, that Mabel would be induced to become, by a mar- riage with Henry, really one of the family of which she was, in. all love and tenderness that could be bestowed upon her, already one of the most cherished members, They reached the room, and Mabel springing forward prevent- ed the old man from rising; but, sinking to his feet, she looked up in his face as she said: ‘Dear grandfather, will you love me ?” Sobs of joy choked his utterance. He folded his arms about her, and pressed her to his breast. He kissed ‘tenderly that beautiful brow, and when he could sufficiently command his ape to allow him to speak, he said: “* Will I love you, my own dear child? Can you ask, when the old man’s heart is all yours? You—you have your father’s eyes, dear Mabel. God’s blessings on you. J—I never thought to see such a happy moment as this. My beautiful Mabel, I should ask you, rather, will you love this old, withered form so near the grave ?” comicbooks. com