The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 104: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. 101 a littse rising ground, they would rise above the mist, and could then see across the ocean of white vapor that lay on the earth. The tree-tops could be seen plainly, while their lower halves were completely and entirely lost to the eye; even the road itself could not be well distinguished. 7 ‘‘ This is a pleasant night,” said Ned, ‘‘and has but one draw- ack.” ‘And what is that ?” “ Why, the fog is so thick you can cut it with a knife.” They had come very near the high road, and Mabel, who had hitherto been passive and silent, now somewhat recovered the shock her nerves and mind had received. Thought once more was active, and her brain seemed to recover from a pressure that had been depriving her of the power of reflection, and of re- ceiving any impressions from objects around her. By degrees, however, she began to reflect upon her situation. The speed, mysterious manner, and everything else connected with the journey, made her shudder, and more than once caused her to put the question to herself of: ‘* Am I right in thus obeying a man who tells me he is my father, and hurries me off against my will?” She considéred awhile; she began to reflect on the possible change that would take place in her home. What could sucha man as that desire of her than to make some use of her—toserve some bad purpose and to gain some evil object ? All these things made a strange and strong impression on her mind; the idea, tov, of being forced away from those whom she supposed, with good reason, to regard her with kindness and affection; and she could not help saying to herself: ‘*Such a man can never be my father; and yet he seems to be so—he is able to tell me many things that I could not otherwise know. I have no witnesses to say he is not my father, and yet his having the means of knowing what Captain Morton knows, seems to argue that more knowledge is possessed by him. But no; I will not believe it; and yet if it were, what love or affection can _ he fee] when he tears me away from such friends as Captain Morton? No, no: I will not submit—I will resist. I may fail, but I shall have the satisfaction of knowing I have given nocon- sent to this proceeding.” They entered the main road and put their horses to a good canter, and as the night was yet dark and misty they could see nothing; but suddenly they were startled by the sound of the horn of the guard of a coach that was evidently coming to- ward them. ‘‘D——n them!” muttered the mendicant. ‘‘ Keep close, Neil,” he added. ‘‘Pm here; keep on the right side, and ride on, else we may get a scrape with the coach wheels,” The horn again sounded, and the coach wheels now could be heard close at hand, and the lamps gave out a dim light. ‘* Now,” thought Mabel, ‘‘ this may be my only chance; they cannot disregard my cries, and these men will not attempt to comicbooks. com