At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 176: what you’re looking at

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

AT A GIRL’S MERCY. 165 what we women, as you call us in rather a scorn- 3 Pia? “I never thought of scorning you, Helen,” he said, reproachfully, the stronger fingers closing over the slender hand of the gentle comforter. ‘I could hever scorn the strength and the bravery and the wonderful souls of women, Helen dear, with you for a friend all my life. It is only that you do not know as we do the terrible need there is for every man at this time when the victory rests -on such slender lines, and the ready strength of even one man could so easily turn the scale. I could never think scornfully of you——”’’ : She interrupted him with her sweet, low laugh. The slender fingers once more regained their free- _ dom, and préssed down into quietness the firmer fingers of the restless patient. She shook her head archly, trying to cheer him, as she said gravely: “It isn’t polite to interrupt us so, Captain Court- land. And you need not protest your innocence of scorn, for | know in your hearts many of you men think women are fit only for the quiet of home, and think and know nothing of the struggle going on in the world for their good as well as for yours. But you do us an injustice—indeed, you do. We keep pace with the battles as well as you, though we may have to sit at home with folded arms. Andif weare able to enter the field even in this simple manner of nurse——”’ ‘It is not simple,’’ again interrupted the deeper voice. The gray eyes sought the darker eyes with deep reproach. The hands, lying under the gentle stroking of the softer hand, were tense with re- pressed feeling. ‘“‘It is not simple, this grand work = you are doing to help on the battle, Helen. But you do not know how we feel when we are forced to do — nothing but wait. You cannot understand how a man feels tied down with useless hands while others are fighting and struggling in the terrible heart of the battle. You know me, Helen Travers, and you know I could not do other than honor any woman doing her life work as you are doing yours——” _ “There!”? The kindly dark eyes flashed merrily iGcbooks =) (E(0) 4 | : ] ; Ps ag: ° " 7 ~ (€(0@) LS . a. i! “4 = 4 = = e » ~ ‘ . er. se Sud og Se i