The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. 55 when he entered the chamber he looked anxiously toward the bed, fully expecting to see in the person of the sufferer some one whom he should recognize as an acquaintance. Mr. Bland understood the look, and he said at once,— ‘*Do you know him, Captain Morton?” “<T do not.” ‘“‘That’s odd. He wants to see you.” ‘‘T never, to my knowledge, saw hiin before.” Mr. Bland stooped over the stranger, and said, in a clear, dis- tinct voice: ‘** You wished to see Captain Morton. He is now here in the room, ready to hear anything you have to say to him.” A greater degree of animation appeared for a moment to come over the dying man, and he said at once: ‘* Morton—Morton—yes; where is he ?” ‘* Here,” said Morton; ‘*I am here.”’ “* All yellow—all yellow.” ‘‘He is dying,” whispered Mr. Bland. ‘‘ His very moments are numbered.” ‘*T am here,” added Morton, ‘ willing to do you any service in my power. 1 do not know you, though.” ‘* You—you never saw me,” faintly ejaculated the dying trav- eler; ‘‘you never saw me before. Your hand—your hand.” He waved his own hand to and fro, as if seeking for Captain Morton’s, and the latter placed his hand in that of the unfort- unate man as he said. in a voice of deep compassion: “There is my hand. Speak, will you, and speak your wishes, God forbid that at such a time as this I should refuse to comply with anything you desire. Although I never saw you before, as you admit, you may know me.” | The dying man grasped his hand as, in imploring accents, he said: ‘“‘Thank God! I have lived long enough-—” A strange gurgling sound in the dying man’s throat was the only response, and he was evidently making a vain effort to speak, Mr. Bland shook his head. ‘*Gone ?” said Captain Morton, ‘Not quite, but nearly. He cannot tell you what he means now. ‘‘How unfortunate! Speak, oh, speak if you can; Captain Morton-—Morton whom you wished to see, implores you to speak again. Summon energy, and speak your wishes.” A gasping sob came from the dying man. A gush of blood issued from his mouth, and in a clear loud voice he cried,— ‘* MABEL!” The limbs relaxed; the eyes became glazed and fixed; the head sunkeon one side. Then came a faint puff of breath, which, for an instant, gave a roundness to the cheeks, and then they sunk forever. The stranger was dead! comicbooks. com