At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 198: what you’re looking at

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

AT A GIRL’S MERCY, ~ iY 187 save him from what would come to him, though she knew not what that might be? What was it they did to spies?—though she scorned to think of that term in regard to her father. He was nospy; he was simply using his eyes and ears for the good of their cause, and what man with a heart for the right, but would do the same? These enemies of theirs used such strange means to gain their ends! Her father was no spy, and he was as noble as any of those who sought to wrong him. If it were that cowardly Howard Blake who was doing this thing—as she began to firmly believe in her first thought of him— then he were in truth putting his threat to the proof and setting his vengeance up so high for her sorrow- ing that she could have no hope to outwit him. But she would not re If there were nothing she could do she could at least give her life and her care for these soldiers fighting in the same cause with her father, though they were in the field, and he was shut off in the home ranks. If there were only something she could do for him, something she could do to free him from the wrong laid upon him, from the bonds he was laid under. If there were anything she could do for him surely she could find it, surely there would never be such a cruel fate as to leave her in ignorance of it until too late. But what could she do, and what was it she would de- fend her father from? Her brain was of no use lately. She smiled dully, thinking this, and ran her fingers slowly through the curls of her head. What was it they did to spies when taken by the enemy? Was it the chains and the imprisonment that would wear out, after awhile, even the brave spirit of her father? Or was there something else they did? She wished she could remember what it was they did to spies. She would ask some of these men who were so good to her, but she could not bring herself to speak to even them about it just yet. And yet if she ~ would do anything she must do it at once. Would not the surgeon do his best for her, and give her the experience that had come to him through these ter- rible months suffering and seeing the suffering of -others? Was he not one of the kindest of men, and Eomichooks (Eo) 5