At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

42 AT A GIRLI’S MERCY, shall always wish to know, and long to go, too, that I might be one more to help end the war.” They had been good friends all their lives, why shouldn’t she ask him this? But a flush arose in his face, and she winced from the pain of her hands in his stern clasp. ‘“You shall hear,’’ he said, steadily, ‘“‘if you wish, Nan. Again, good-by, and now and always, God keep you and yours.’’ She stood looking after him with her wide, wet eyes as he strode out through the garden, tall, broad-shouldered, fit, indeed, to be a soldier, she thought; and with an army like him, how could the war last much longer? But there was an ache at her heart as she walked slowly back to the house, know- ing full well that there were others waiting her there, and that she must act as though there were nothing the matter other than happened every day. CHAPTER IV. TWO DAUGHTERS OF THE UNION. “When Miss Travers calls this evening, show her at once to the library, John,’’ Nan said, to the butler, as she passed into the parlor, where several friends were waiting on her return from the garden. And when the numerous questions as to the incidents of the previous night, exclamations and protestations as to the audacity of the thieves, the exceeding marvel of her courage under the trying circum- stances, sorrow at her mother’s illness, and regrets for her father’s loss—when these were over, and her guests, one after another through the long summer afterenoon, had gone, and the day set in to evening, Gomicbooks.co m aD)