At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 180: what you’re looking at

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

AT A GIRU’S MERCY. Beaaeca tit can have happened in our quiet little town, and the instigator of the plot never found out.’’ She smiled into the eyes raised to hers, and gave the letter a sight shake, as though by so doing she could shake from it the desired knowledge. “It is from Hilda, Charlie, and you know what a child she is to send one the nicest possible news? Well, the news she has in this letter inclines me to doubt our former be- lief in her cheering influences. But, there, you poor, curious fellow, I’ll keep you no longer in suspense unless I am called away during the reading of it. Now, prepare yourself for the strangest thing you can imagine, but believe me, dear,’’ a sudden trouble on her face, “‘it all comes out right. I would not let you know of it did it not.’’ “All this mystery but rouses my most intense de- sire to know of what you are talking, Helen,’’ her patient said, drawing her down beside him in her chair. “itis very trying to have to fill one’s curi- osity with scanty snatches such as you are giving me. I am all attention; please begin reading at once. If you are called away I shall finish it my- self.’’ “Well,’? and Helen laughed to hide the disappoint- ment she felt, ‘““you will have to read it yourself, Charlie, dear, for the surgeon is beckoning me, and I know when he has that face on I am due for some time. Oh, this terrible war! If it would only end!”’ ‘It will end in time, dear,’’ Charlie said, now turn- ing comforter for the sturdy heart flinching under its daily sorrowful sights. “‘I know how hard it is, Helen, dearest, but it will end soon.”’ He was trying to convince himself as well as her, and the girl knew it as she went from him, leaving the letter in his hands, to obey the call for her assist- ance. The wounded officer brought in for care was almost a hopeless case, but they would do what they could, the kindly surgeon said, as he and the gentle - nurse bent over him, lying insensible upon the rude pallet made up quickly at his orders. He was a strong man, Helen knew, and had fought long and well in the struggle, but the shell that had lost him an arm had cut so close to his life that they scarcely cEomicbooks ’ ‘ ‘ ’ 2 < , “ Nd » ee ee j . ae * .s 7 ity Jihaw «4 « > +.