The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 116: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. 118 fata] consequences—for fatal, as regards our happiness, will they be, unless Mabel is restored to our arms again, ‘‘The love of Henry for Mabel is evidently no boyish passion. I can well perceive that it is. more firmly fixed than we ever imagjned, and young as he is, and mexperienced in the world’s ways, I do not anticipate anything-but the best results from the journey in search of Mabel, which 1 shall provide him amply with the means of at once effectually undertaking.” In conversation like this Mrs. Morton and her husband passed some time, until the captain, feeling quite assured, now that she was sufficiently recovered from the mental shock she had received, at all events, to dread no recurrence of it, left her to see to the arrangements for Henry’s departure. He repaired to the parlor again, where lights were still burn- ing, and as he entered that apartment somewhat abruptly, he started to perceive a human form between him and the table. Captain Morton could not at the moment see who it was, because the figure stood between him and the lights; but it was only for an instant he recoiled, and then advancing quickly, he cried,— ‘<W ho’s there ?” ‘** A fool, your honor,” said a voice, which the captain knew well as that of Rafferty Brolickbones. ‘* Rafferty!” he exclaimed, ‘‘ is that you?” ‘‘TIt was me, sir; but I ain’t me now.” ‘‘What do you mean?” ‘‘ Ah, sir, ’m mean enough. I have done it, sir. You can call a court-martial, sir; I wish you would, and have me shot as soon as you like.” ‘*Shot!” “Yes, sir. Welcome now will be the bullet that finds its way to Rafferty’s heart. I wish I had never lived, sir, to see this day.” Captain Morton turned back and closed the door, then ad- vancing to Rafferty, he said: ‘‘T cannot fail to understand. You know something of the disappearance of our poor dear Mabel ?” Rafferty replied, in half-choked accents— ‘¢That’s just what I do know, sir, more sorrow tome. Oh, captain, why don’t you kill me? I won’t accuse you of it after- ward, as I’m a Christian.” Rafferty, thus urged, told the whole truth, coloring nothing, and concealing nothing, with a view to render himself less blamablé, and he concluded by saying: ‘* And now, you see, sir, that there’s no fool like an old fool, and it’s high time I was invalided. I’ve only come here to tell your honor what I’ve done, and now I’m going. Good-bye to you, and God’s blessing, sir, on you and yours, whatever be- comes of me.” ‘*Going where?” said Morton. “* Never mind, sir, where I go; it ain’t worth an inquiry. To think of staying now, after to-night’s business, is out of the question. Ican’tdoit, Don’t say an unkind word to me, sir, comicbooks. com