At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

48 _ AT A GIRL’S MERCY. many of our best men away from home, fighting for the Union, these rogues have a greater chance for escape than during peaceful times. These are some of the fortunes of war. In this instance we have lost our money, while many have lost their lives. It is one of the world’s great laws that the good of a nation lies upon the shoulders of her men, and shall be held by the price of blood if necessary. It is only after war that we have peace. We hold the right by might, and our willingness to suffer for it.” “Yes, and such men as Mr. Blake, staying safely at home looking after his own affairs with watchful care, not even using his money to help on the war,”’ Nan cried, with still deeper bitterness; ‘‘and mak- ing no pretense of caring how the end shall come so long as it does not touch his pocket. <A big, strong man like him to shrink, while hundreds nowhere near his strength or his stature, are fighting to the very last for their homes and their right. And, oh, he is very generous—for bim—to ‘wait’ awhile, and give us a chance to recover his money; and, of course, if it isn’t found—— Well, I’ll not talk of him to-night. We’re speaking of heroes.” “For Mr. Blake to do even that,’’ Helen said, laughing, “is a great concession on his part, I as- sure you, Nan. You should feel greatly honored.”’ “Well, we’re not,’? and Nan was fairly spiteful. ‘He has no right to demand the return of his money. He ran every risk of losing it, and it wasn’t father’s- fault. Id like to know if father didn’t lose almost as much as he.”’ “But that isn’t the thing, Nan,’’ the squire said, as though despairing of ever making his daughter see the business side of the matter. ‘‘This money (e(0) mn L_P>) Gomicbooks