At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

134 ; AT A GIRLS MERCY. successful charge. That is all I know, Nan. Perhaps Helen will tell you more when she writes.” ‘But Helen has so little time to write, and I hear so seldom,’’ Nan said. ‘‘Iam afraid we will hear nothing more than this unti} the terrible war is over. I wish [ could do something to help it on, papa.” Again he searched her face as though to read her innermost thought. Then he stroked the sunny head at his knee. But he made no answer, and Nan continued, softly, almost fearing the reply she would receive: “Papa, you said if you had twenty sons you would give them all, if necessary, to the country. Are you willing to let your naughty little girl go, too, to do as Helen is doing, even if less than she is doing, for I am not one bit brave, papa. But I want to do what little I can.”’ He leaned down and lifted the girl’s face between his hands, studying it for a moment in silence. His face worked strangely, though after a minute it was set in stern strength. Then he touched her forehead with his lips, and said, rather huskily: “As my sons are doing what they can, could I re- fuse to let my daughter do the same? Nan, the old Hall will not be the same place with our sunshine gone from it, but I made a pledge with myself long ago that if your mother was given back to me, and you wished to go, I would not refuse your wish. The country needs every one, dear, and the more brave little women like you there are to help it along the sooner the victory will be ours—for it must be ours. We will win, I am sure, Nan, and my little daughter will have helped on the winning, as well as my two sons.”’ “It is good of you to say that, papa,’ Nan said, CoOmicbooks.com |