Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

BERTHA’S VICTORY. ~ 103 , CHAPTER XIX. BERTHA’S VICTORY, Above the weak and helpless form in the chair the colonel towered, the point of his naked sword pressed against the palpitating breast of his enemy. ‘“Thus do I rid the world of a traitor to Virginia!?? hissed Trafton, as he gripped his sword for the fatal stroke. “Strike, coward !?? ‘Loyal Mose’’ lay back, white, yet with the fires of hatred and defiance flaming from his eyes. ‘Hold! in the name of mercy!”’ A clear yet soft voice filled their ears. _ A hand was laid on-the shoulder of Colonel ‘T'raf- ton, and he was turned about to find himself con- fronted by Bertha McVane. “Ah! it is you, Bertha!’ uttered the colonel, forc- — ing a smile, and taking a step backward from his vie- tim. ‘‘T‘his is no place for you.’’ ‘What were you about to do, Colonel ‘T'rafton ?’” the girl demanded, sharply, piercing the guilty man through with her clear, questioning black orbs. ‘’To do?’’? he stammered, falling back in confusion. ‘“T__perhaps you do not know this man;’’ and the colonel’s long forefinger pointed toward the Unionist in the chair. “T am pretty well acquainted with the young man,”’ was the rapidly uttered answer. ‘“Ah, Bertha, you have made a woeful mistake in | permitting this man, this—this——”’ ‘Traitor! I know what you would say, Colonel Trafton,’’? uttered Bertha, as he seemed at a loss for words to finish his sentence, ‘‘This man has espoused _ ae “comicbooks (ee)