At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 225: what you’re looking at

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

214 | AT A GIRLS MERCY. than you could realize, should I tell you, Nan—more than I would tell you here away from the shelter of your home. But he has failed—failed utterly, and my brave girl and her noble father are freed from his hold and his planning at last. For your father is safe, Nan—never mind how we saved him.’’ How could he tell her of the capture of the men who were under escort on their way to the govern- ment post. where he must have been out of all power to save unless by miracle—of the capture after the fierce fight that had lasted but for a few short min- utes, and ended in the victory of their men and the return of her father to his liberty? Her heart was sick enough with the struggle and the trials and the sadness of this war, and he would tell her nothing of what should prove to her the utter recklessness of the men who would end the war if treachery or bravery would do it. ‘“Your father is safe, Nan, and once more in the old home. You need have no fears of further harm being done him, for Charlie is there—your Charlie, who proved so grandly his brave spirit in the field, but who, giving, as so many have, one of his limbs to the victory of his country, is now at home, where he was sent, with the honor due him for his brave defense of his country’s honor. You may be proud of your brothers, Nan. They have the old Court- land spirit,’ added her lover, with pride in his own heart for the noble girl at his side. ‘‘I came to you at once, Nan, but I must leave you again. There are the needs of war, and I could not hesitate even for you, my brave girl. But you are to keep up heart, and all will come wellin the end, and the war will end with our victory, be the struggle no matter how hard.’’ And Nan smiled steadily and bravely into the gentle face bent above her, and knew that there must be struggling even harder than there had yet been ere the victory should come, but why should she send away the lover just given back to her with other than words of the bravest and the strongest? comicbooks.com