The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 223: what you’re looking at

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

220 THE CHILD OF WATERLOO, ate from the charge preferred against him. The worthy mag- istrate questioned her closely, and, from the answers which she gave him, a favorable impression was creatid in the minds of all present. She stated that the party with whom, from ear- liest childhood, she had had a home, was a Captain Morton, re- siding in Morton Hall, in Oxfordshire; whereupon the magis- trate expressed his intention of immediately writing to that gentleman; and, as she declared herself to be destitute, he di- rected that she should be taken care of.” ‘¢‘ And—and,” said Captain Morton, ‘‘ when was all this ?” ‘‘Some days ago.” ‘‘ And I not to know it ?” ‘We have neither of us looked at the papers lately,” re- marked Henry. ‘*But the magistrate’s letter ?” ‘‘Is most likely now lying at the Hall.” ‘‘Good Heaven! then the very step which we took in com- ing to town has been the means of defeating our object in a speedy restoration to our dear Mabel. Oh! what may she not have suffered during this period of agonizing suspense!” ‘‘ Well,” said the hostler, ‘‘ all this amazes me. I, of course, thought it was the magistrate’s letter that had brought you to town, and as fully expected to find Mabel with you as ever I expected anything in this world.” “Let us seek her instantly,” cried Captain Morton, springing to his feet. ‘‘Come, Henry, do not let us delay another mo- ment. Oh, what a delightful day this will be to poor ,old Mon- sieur Rouselli! Come, Henry, at once.” ‘* Ready,” said Henry, ‘‘ were it to go the world over, if my ie the conclusion of my pilgrimage was to be a sight of abel.’ _ “ Well,” remarked the hostler, ‘‘I’am glad I came, and that our cross purposes have turned out to be of some importance. Why, Heaven only knows how long you might have remained without knowing what had happened.” ‘“We might have been days—ay, weeks; and during all that time, poor Mabel might be exposed to the cruelest of suspicions.” They had now reached the door, and the whole three of them, for the hostler asked and readily obtained permission to walk with them, proceeded to the police-office which had been named in the report. When, however, they reached there, they found that they were too early, for, although the doors were certainly open, business had not commenced. Appearance. however, does wonders at all public places in England, and with officials of all sorts and grades. ere was so much of the unmistakable gentleman in Captain Morton’s aspect that the officer who kept the door was disposed to be wonderfully civil. - ‘* The magistrate, sir,” he said, ‘‘ has not yet come, but if you will walk in and take a seat no doubt he will attend to any businesg.you may have with him, the moment he arrives.” ‘*My naéme you will find on that card,” said Captain Morton, handing him one, ‘I come to make inquiry concerning 4 comicbooks. com