At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

AT A GIRI’S MERCY, 21 & might have treated him as he deserved! If only Charlie and Frank were here to help me in this! And I shut in here as though I were a coward!’’ Hastily dressing herself she again turned to the window, waiting for the dawn and the rising of the sun. By and by a streak of light shot up the east— another and another; an arch of glittering rays, a solid rim of blinding gold, growing larger and larger, into the half—the whole of a golden RODE and the sun was risen. The girl stood like a statue, and watched it rise up and up, her breath quick and labored, as though she were suffocating; she put her two bands up to her head to still its beating; her eyes were strained to meet the rising sun. “T shall know, I shall know!”’’ she cried, softly, the return of all her strength bringing a flush to her cheeks anda new light to her eyes. She was ready for what should come, and under a wonderful self-control, as she stood, her hand on the handle of the door, watching the sun mount the oppo- site hill. When it was clear of the slope, sailing like a golden ball over the trees and the gardens on the hill-top; she flung the door wide open and ran along the hall, holding her breath with the thought of what might be waiting her, a sob in her throat, a ery in her heart for help to bear what was to come. The door was ajar, and with blanching face she pushed on into the room beyond. For a moment her heart stood still as she saw only two silent figures on the bed, but she regained her courage whena movement proved that her fears were groundless. Both were gagged, as the thief had said, and it was with trembling hands that the girl untied the knots CS m GEomichboo (E(0)