The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

22 THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. ‘‘Stay—stay. I—want to know more—I must know more— that is, I humbly request to know more.” | ‘i -‘T cannot remain to answer the questions of a stranger,” said abel, ‘By Heaven!—no. Pardon me, miss. Your ‘father, Mr. Morton——” ‘He is not my father.” ‘Not your father! Not—not—not your father! What then— “shat then, I say? You are too young to be his wife. What— what——” ‘This is impertinence,” said Mabel; and, feeling a degree of alarm which she woul’ not show, she hastened to leave the wilderness. Fain would she have run from the place, but a sense of pride, and a natural courage which she possessed, for- bade her to do so, and she only walked at a rapid pace. Some distance lower down in the wilderness was a swinging gate, which led to a pathway direct to the farm-house, and it was that which she now wished to gain. Before, however, she had proceeded far, she heard the hasty patter of the man’s bare feet upon the pathway behind her, and she felt assured that she was pursued. A pang of fear came across her mind, and she quick- ened her speed. She knew that she was being overtaken, and that there was no time for her to open the gate and pass through it, so she at once turned upon her pursuer when she reached it, ant with her hand laid upon it, and a face as pale as marble, she said: | ‘‘What means this conduct? Is this the way you advance your claims to charity ?” ‘““D———n your charity!” cried the fellow; ‘‘ why did you run from me in that way for ?” ‘*How dared you pursue me?” ‘* Because it was my pleasure. I want a few plain answers to a few plain questions; and you had better give them to me at once. ‘‘ Beware, sir; I am not so far from home but that I can sum- mon assistance. I pity your wretched condition, and am dis- sed to forgive even this outrage, if you at once desist from fol- owing me.” ‘‘Can you, indeed! You carry it with a high hand. The more I look at you the more I feel inclined to insist upon an answer to my questions, the first one of which is, who are you?” ** Who—who am I?” | ‘‘Yes, who are you? What’s your name? Who are your friends, girl? Are you any relationship to Morton, or none?” Mabel looked fixedly at the man, and the idea crossed her mind that surely he must know something of her history, or he would not be so curious concerning her. | ‘* Your manner convinces me I am not wrong, that I have not been walking over England years for nothing. You are not a daughter—indeed, you are no relation of Morton’s. Was he at the battle of Waterloo ?” ** He was.” ‘“T knew it. The very man. D——n! what a treat. You comicbooks. com