At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

™, tied = « Paice ATA GIRL’S MERCY. 91 man, papa, and I would do almost anything to prove it to him.”’ 3 She looked capable of it. Her face was flushed, and her eyes flashing with the same spirit with which she met the daring burglar in her room that night that brought the shadow of death so close upon their home life. Her hands were clenched as though she would like to try her woman’s strength against the strength of the world. Her father smiled involuntarily. He was as proud of this daughter of his as though he had no sons. She had a good deal of his spirit, too—old, brave, war-like spirit—and he admired her for it. She had plenty of womanly sweetness to counter- balance it, and could well afford. sucha flashing spirit. She was a Courtland to the core, but with her mother’s gentleness and tenderness that made her so lovable. “T haven’t a doubt you’d like to prove it to him this minute, Nan, little girl,’’ he said. ‘‘He isn’t the man we would desire for a friend, or to be under such obligation as we are——”’’ ‘“We’re under no obligation,’’ protested Miss Nan, flashing her big blue eyes upon ber father with re- newed warlike tendencies. ‘‘We’re under not a speck of obligation to Howard Blake, papa. Id die rather than be, anyway, and I know we are not. As to that money. it wasn’t your fault that he lost it—I’m sure you lost nearly as much more as he— and I’ll not have you feeling so. You’re as high above him as it is possible for a man to be.’’ “T told you you could not comprehend how we men feel in such a matter, my dear Nan.”’ ; The squire was growing restless. He would no for the world tell his daughter of the proposal the - Gomicbooks (E(@) m