At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

AT A GIRL'S MERCY. 95 while, he felt si sure. She was like all other women, to be won by hard wooing and patient waiting to over- come her first repulse. He could win her through gold, he was sure, as a last resort. No woman could refuse the good that went with gold. No price was too high in his eyes for winning the girl he had de- cided should be his. That she was not indifferent to the young captain, who had not long resumed ~ his place in the war, he knew full well. That Cap- tain Travers would win her if he could, he also knew. But in his eyes Nan Courtland was already his. In his heart she would be his, did he but wait long enough to work his plans with sufficient care. He had more than one wire to pull in accomplishing his end, and he would undoubtedly win. If the worst came to the worst he could threaten her fa- ther. Well, he hoped honestly that that would not be necessary. He would use no harsh measures if it were possible to do without. He wished his wife to love him, and he knew her well enough to know how she could hate if she chose. He was on his way down to the Hall to inquire as to Mrs. Courtland’s condition, as was his habit. He did not go by the road, as he did usually, but walked down through the fields where the clover was heavy waiting for the scythe. He looked about him with pride as he walked, for there was not another es- tate in the country in such fine condition as his, since the war had robbed the farms of their workers and the homes of their leaders. He was thinking over all these plans of his as he walked, and looking over his ruddy grain and waiting hay, out to where the sleek cattle roamed; he chuckled to himself, thinking what a frail defense Nan Courtland could make against him should she try. He pushed his GEomichoo cS (ele) mn ‘ - * a * - % ‘. : » - fr¥ Me . ” 5 » « me -