At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 215: what you’re looking at

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

204 : AT A GIRI’S MERCY. the life that had caused the death of so many brave men. The life that were better ended, the life that could come to no good after its course of utter vil- lainy. ‘“T came in here to plead for my father,’’ she said. “T can save your life but not your freedom. But when I came and realized what I should do I would not take my father’s life from your hands as a gift were there no need of my uttering a word in your defense. I would scorn the gift, and so would he!”’ She turned and laid her hand upon the flapping curtain of the tent as though she would leave him, but he started forward, and she paused, gracious even at the last. — ‘Your scorn becomes you,”’ he said, but there was a harshness in his voice that she had never before— heard. The glittering black eyes were bloodshot, as though there had come to him, daring as he had proved himself, a moment of cowardly terror at what lay before him. Then he laughed, and the laugh was harsh and bitter as he threw a bit of paper at her feet. ‘“‘I thank you, sweet friend, for the life you would so graciously grant me, and in return I give you, without hope of reward, the word that will not only save your father’s life, but set him at liberty as free as he was ere ever the war broke out. This only have I to tell you, but one word of warning that you will understand, against the man you know as well as I, whom I need not name. He has proved his power. He has worked for your undoing’ from the first. How, think you, did we know so well the plan of your home? Who © set the traps for your father, and would not be ~ daunted, and worked always in secrecy with the — might of his wealth? You know as well as I, and I but warn you. You show me no more mercy than he has shown you, yet I will not go out of the world without this warning. And now I have but one fa- vor to ask of you. It is to you perhaps a small thing; tome itis much. Will you grant me the re- turn of the spray of flowers I sent you as guerdon of my faith? They have been with me through all _ i a TS = pe a : PCO Ke > (e) (2)