At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

AT A GIRLS MERCY. 173 old times back again—only we can never have the same old friends—all of them—and will you never be here again, Helen Travers, to comfort your poor lonely little mother and sister, HILDA?”? So the letter ended, and Charlie laid it down, his thoughts in a tumult; so much of mystery about it, and no one to explain it to him. It was with more impatience than he had shown in many days that he awaited Helen’s approach. “I thought you were never coming,’ he said, when at last she came to him, but the sadness of her face checked any impatient words he would have said, and he simply reached out to take her hand and draw her down beside him to comfort her. “I could not come any sooner, Charlie,”’ she said, trying to keep her voice steady, though the deep sorrow in her eyes betraved how deeply she was touched. ‘‘The poor fellow died not ten minutes ago, and his face was so brave——’’ regain her courage, for she would not let her own sorrow trouble in the least this lover of hers, whose own cup was quite full enough. ‘“‘I believe I will never be truly brave, Charlie,’’ she said presently, letting her trembling hands lie in his for strength, the drooping lids raised to search the kindly eyes op- posite for their assurance of trust that she knew would not failher. ‘‘These sad scenes set me away back so, just when I think I am the very bravest creature in the world.’’ She laughed, but it was brokenly, and loosened one of her hands to push the tumbled hair from her forehead. ‘‘You have read the letter, I see, dear. It is asad letter, but it might have been so much worse. It isn’t half so bad as that other trouble that fell on them before I left home. You remember about the thieves? It was the most daring piece of burglary I ever heard of.”’ ‘“Wait,’’ Charlie said. ‘‘I haven’t the least idea She paused to of what you are talking, Helen. What burglary, and — how long has my mother been ill?” She met his questioning look with one of astonish- ment. Then the color came slowly back to her face, Eomicbooks.co P Ay acd ;