At a Girl's Mercy, or, The Fortunes of War — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

¢ o4 AT A GIRLI’S MERCY. mo’ ’count ’n a dog, an’ not ha’f ’s much some- times. ButIcan’t be a-foolin’. Ef yo’ ’ll go, say so; ef yo’ won’t go, Say thet, too, on’y be quick, I tell yer, fer time is a-passin’.”’ The girl turned from the room, and passed out to the little porch at the door, with a motion of her hand for her companion to follow her. The house was near the bank of the James River, and listening intently, one could catch the far-off sound of camp-life, and the gleam and flash of the firenow and then when the faint breeze lifted the flames. Out on the porch, in view of this Confederate en- campment, the girl paused. She was trembling with excitement, but her voice was soft and mellow when she spoke. Her eyes were large and luminous, and looked off away from her companion to the round full moon climbing above the pines like a peaceful queen. | ‘“EKt’s safer here,’’ Lola said; ‘‘we ain’t nebber shu’ ’t some one ain’t a-watchin’ an’ list’nin’ ter cit outen us what we’s up ter. I ain’t nebber cotched one, no,’’ she hastened to add, in her low voice, soft with the languor of the South, as a flash in her com- panion’s eyes warned her what would follow treach- ery; ‘“‘but I don’ want ter giv’ ’em a chance ter git at me.”’ ‘“They’d better leav’ yo’ ’lone,’’ the man said, again laying his hand on her arm. ‘‘Ef theys tetch yo —— He broke off suddenly, glancing up at the mount- ing moon. ‘Tell me quick!’’ he whispered, and Sai she could hear. ‘‘Ef it’s yes or no, say it, fer I’se ter be at ther creek in a few minnets, an’ can’t wait. Et’s m Gomicbooks.co