The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 280: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. 977 difficulty in stating that which you know, whether it work for or against the unhappy man at the bar.” ‘¢T will not shrink,” she said, ‘I will not shrink—no one should under such circumstances; I will do my duty.” ‘‘That is no more than I expected from you,” he returned, en- couragingly, ‘‘ Now, Mabel, now—you’re expected.” The name of Mabel Rouselli resounded through the court, and when she stepped into the witness-box, and the oath was ad- ministered to her, her exquisite beauty attracted the attention of all who saw her. She was pale—very pale for a few mo- ments; but then, as her color gradually returned, there was not a heart in court that did not feel a reluctance at the idea of one who was so young and so beautiful, having to go through so un- comfortable an ordeal. | ‘I will detain you,” said the counsel, ‘‘ Miss Rouselli, as short a time as possible: but it has become absolutely necessary, for the furtherauce of the ends of public justice, that you should occupy the position you now do.’ The counsel paused, as if expecting a reply; but Mabel merely inclined her head, and he then proceeded. ‘‘ Were you at the period of the commission of this murder, which is now the subject of judicial investigation, at Morton Hall ?” “JT was.” ‘* And it was soon after that circumstance that the occurrence took place, which forced you from the care of Captain Morton and his family, to place you under the doubtful guardianship of others in whom you had no confidence—the prisoner at the bar, in fact, I believe by a stratagem, took you from your home ?” ‘* He did.” ‘‘'Was he alone in that adventure? and, if not, will you ex- lain, as nearly as you can, to the court and to the jury, the ind of associate or associates he had in it ?” ‘‘He had one associate—a desperate man, like himself of strange appearance, and ruffianly manners.” ‘* And this man, I presume, in costume presented no flourish- ing appearance; in fact, I sunpose he assimilated somewhat to the ragged aspect of the prisoner at the bar, when first you saw him >” ** He certainly did so.” , “T have no further .questions to ask of you; perhaps my learned friend for the prosecution may be anxious to say some- thing.’ ‘* Not in the least,” said the other counsel. ‘I’m quite con- tent to let you assume all the advantage you can from this cir- cumstance, and have no comment to make. The case is over, unless you have more witnesses to call.” ** None—none—there must be an acquittal.” . The judge proceeded now to sum up, and spoke nearly as fol- ows: ‘‘ The prisoner at the bar stands charged with willful murder ~—the evidence against him 1s purely of a circumstantial nature. But where it happens that a positive crime has been committed, comicbooks. com