At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 168: what you’re looking at

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

AT A GIRL’S MERCY. ning to turn back. CHAPTER XVI. A TENDER NUBRBSE. What a contrast to the quiet old Hall, set in its shady lawn and fragrant garden, were the scenes among which Helen Travers moved. 157 this ending to his planning for her winning. And he _ would not even now give up the fight, so intense was his desire for revenge and the winning of the proud, pure woman who could so easily reject his suit after his having gone already too far in his plan- No tender lights and shadows, with the soft air and fragrant flowers swinging their quiet lives away through the summer hours, but the thunder of the cannon, the shrieking of shells, the trample of horses, and the shouting of men through the days and into the nights; while many a brave soldier. breathed his life out under her tender care, blessing the gentle lady, whose face was so tender with its brave hazel eyes and delicate mouth trying to smile into the No flowers were there to lay on the quiet forms after death had set his seal upon them, only the tender closing of the eyes from which all light had fled, and the sending of sad messages, told so bravely with the last falter- -ing breath. Only the sweet, low prayer whispered as the spirit was gathering for its flight, and the wiping of the death dews from brows where the smoke and seams of battle had given place for these, and the touch of covl water to the parching lips. But, after all, she stood her ground, and did her best when the best was all any one could do, and she watched the paling of brave. bronzed faces until she learned in all its strength the ennobling influences — of the spirit of true manhood. There were so many battles, and so many wounded after each, that the fading eyes looking up to hers. pe began to wonder how it was that the ranks were - ept so full and the struggle borne along with such grand bravery. She knew more of the bitterness of war in the few months she had been in its midst Sn ee a (Ele) iGhboo Ss) (ee)