At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 201: what you’re looking at

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

190 | AT A GIRLS MERCY. for. I know you are brave and unselfish and willing to give your very life for these brave boys, but you must not do this, Miss Nan, because it truly is not necessary, and I could not bear to think that I had given these little white fingers work that they should never touch, nor the tender heart a needless load of sorrow when there is enough sadness in the world for us to wish to keep such a sunny child as you free from care.” ‘But I came of my own free will,” said the grave, low voice, ‘‘and I will not be sent back, doctor. Only I want you to help me, and if you cannot, or wil not, I must go to some one else. Evenif there is need of the knife, I shall not flinch, so you need not hesitate to tell me.’’ She jaughed to keep up the cheerfulness of her words, but there was a faintness about the sound that smote the kindly heart of the man beside her. He laid his hand gently on her shoulder—she came scarcely up to his shoulder—as he said, gravely, no hesitation in his quiet voice, for he had tested the bravery of this frail girl, and knew she would bear even the knife, as she had said: | “There is trouble enough in the world, little girl, for me to wish to keep you free from its touch, but if you have come to me for help and not comfort, I shall tell you the truth, as I am sure you wish me to do, if Ido have to use the knife to cut away the hurt.’’ He laughed, too, but there was no more mirth in his attempt than in hers, only a tender ring of sadness and a touch of the purest pity for this sweet woman standing out so bravely against the _ battle of her life. ‘‘You ask me what they do with spies. I must tell you that they seta strict watch upon such men, and when they have one in their power there is honestly little hope for him. ‘They shoot.them, little girl, as they should be shot them- selves, for making it necessary for me to tell you this. Why do you want to know?” She had not told him the worst of her story. She had come to him for an answer, and she feared if he knew the reason for her asking he would not tell her quite all that she must know to be prepared for cComicbooks.com | a i eee ~~ wal