The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 244: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHILD OF WATERLOO, 241 ‘©'Yes,” she said. ‘‘Oh, yes; are you not the only being to whom I can claim affinity, dear grandfather? I feel now that I am not a nameless thing, thrown upon the kindness of those who, God knows, have n dear friends to me, but yet who know me not.” ‘‘'Yes, my Mabel, you are now known; you are the daughter of a brave aud honorable man, one who has left you a name of which you need never be ashamed; a name recognized in the annals of his country, and which he has left to you free and spotless,” ‘< Yes, yes.” ‘Young man,” be then said to Henry; ‘‘ you have many times said kind and gentle words to me, and I have delighted in your society, but I never could think of how toreturn you some favor for those you bave bestowed.” “Qh, sir,” said Henry, ‘‘ [ want no thanks.” ‘‘No, grandfather, Henry was only too happy,” said Mabel, ‘‘to give you any pleasure.” ‘Mabel, you have only, I may say,” continued the old man, ‘‘been mine a few short minutes, and yet I am about to cast you away again.” ‘‘Cast me away, grandfather ?” ‘* Yes; what can you desire to cling to an old man for, who is already familiar with the aspect of approaching death? I shall make you a present, as the most valuable of my possessions, to Henry Morton, if he does not despise the gift.” ‘* Despise!” cried Henry; ‘‘ ob, Joy!” ‘‘ And if my dear girl does not object to being so disposed of, and think it unkind of the old man to get rid of her so soon.” Mabel said nothing, but she stretched out one hand to Henry, and he held it in his grasp, as he said, ‘‘Sir, the world contains not so precious a gift.” ‘‘ But she does not agree to it,” he added. ‘*' Yes, yes,” said Mabel. ‘‘ That is—I mean—no! no!” ‘*Oh, that will do; go, my children, and be happy; and may the blessing of God be upon you, Mabel.” ‘‘A—min!” said Rafferty. putting his head in at the door. ‘‘By the powers of Pat Mulligan, the Irish giant, I thought what it would come to.” ‘‘ And you have been listening,” said the captain. ‘“‘ To be sure I have; it’s not much newe of what was going on I'd have had, if I had not listened; nobody had the civility to say, ‘Rafferty, walk up, sir, if you please; so I just invited myself as far as the keyhole. Master Henry, a word with you, sir.” ‘< Well, what is it ?” ‘‘T claim the first kiss of the bride, sir, and for fear some other blackguard should try to get it, I think I'll have it now, sir, if it’s all the same to you.” ‘“No, you won't,” said Henry, ‘and it is not all the same to me, so go about your business, Master Rafferty, and leave the bride alone.” | — comicbooks. com