At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 196: what you’re looking at

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

AT A GIRL’S MEROY. 185 She would never have spoken to the girl of this had she known it would affect her, for the girl was so brave for others she was sure it must be a severe blow thac would so affect her for herself, “I am so sorry,” she began, laying her hand kindly on Nan’sarm. “I am so sorry, Nurse Court: land, that [——’’ Nan icoked at her and smiled her stony, set smile, as though she must smile, though her heart were breaking. She met the other’s kindly gaze with her steady blue eyes, as though to prove her heart un-- hurt, though there was a strained look about them that hurt those watching her sorely. “It is nothing—-much,’’ she said, gravely, trying to keep her voice steady. “It is nothing—much., Only my father—has been taken by the Southern Government, and held—as a spy!” Then her face changed, and the pallor gave place to a purplish hue as she caught her breath as though she were strangling. “I know who has done it,’’ she cried, her sweet voice strained with sudden agony. “I know who has done it. There is only one man in the whole world would have betrayed my father.”’ And then, swaying suddenly, she would have fallen had not the woman caught her in her arms. CHAPTER XX. THE STRANGENESS OF FATE, There was sorrow through the wards when the news of the gentle nurse’s trouble was known, and — many amanly heart throbbed with the desire to — help her if it were possible, feeling its utter inability to do aught but prove their sympathy by bearing with braver hearts their own suffering, and S1Vi0G her smiles instead of the grumbling she had listene to many a time when the waiting for the leave to go home or the leave to return to the field was so long. There were kindly words for her on every side, and smiling lips meeting her quiet face, grown so grave and sad in spite of its brave en- GEomicbooks (Elo) 3S