Roxy Hastings — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

ROXY HASTINGS. 53 “I told no fib. I told mother that her husband was my best friend, and my earliest, and my life-long benefactor. Was not that true 2” Oh, yes. Well, can we tell all this to grandpa ?” “All of it, but only as you have received it under the seal of secrecy.” “Oh, of course.” “be eh me tell him, ma! let me tell him! Oh, I am so g a 44? “And now, my son, is not one of the first things to be thought of— | “I have thought of it daily for the past fortnight. I know well what you are going to say. My brother Alfred.” “Yes, yes, yes. It is nearly a month since we have heard from him, and you know there have been several battles.” “I know, but his name is not reported among the— casualties, nor among the prisoners; mother. I have read the accounts very carefully.” “But he would certainly write after a battle. There must be something wrong.” ‘A letter lost, probably. But we shall soon know. I have written to the colonel of his regiment, and also to Quartermaster Gray, with whom I am acquainted.” “Is there not some way that he can be discharged from the army? You would be willing to pay, wouldn’t you?” “Yes, mother, | would furnish two substitutes rather than have him remain another monthin the ranks. If he had a commission it would be different. I have been making inquiries about it, and a gentleman who has some influence with the Secretary of War told me I could proba- bly obtain his release, although not without considerable formality and delay.” “Surely, ma, Charles has not neglected his brother. He has done everything that can be done until he gets more information.” “TI acknowledge that he has. If he had told me these _ things before I should have been more at ease.” ‘‘T kept silent,” Charles replied, “only because I feared to excite or increase your solicitude by exhibiting my own.” “He is more thoughtful and considerate than we are, Laura,” said his mother, when he had left the room. “Whenever I have reproached him lately, either directly or by implication, it has turned out that he was blameless and that I myself was in the wrong.” “You know that Alfred is your favorite, mother—” cS (e(@) Gomichoo