Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

BERTHA’S VICTORY. 105 speak as you do. I have simply defended aman you would, in your unwise patriotism, have murdered. While under this roof he shall be protected;’’ and Bertha turned a look upon her uncle that caused him ~ to look confused, and a bit uneasy. ear ‘“Ves,’’ finally articulated the farmer; ‘‘aswehave — accepted this man, and agreed to care for him until — able to leave, I am sure he ought to be protected.”’ ‘‘T am surprised that you should wish to protect _one who has no right to honorable treatment. Bertha, were you aware that this man you have coddled and nursed is Moses Bluff the traitor ?”? If he expected to see her start and grow pale, he was sadly disappointed. ‘“‘T am aware that he has been so designated by one > party, while the Yankees are pleased to speak of him as ‘‘Loyal Mose.’’ I know all you would say, colonel, of the fearful outrages, and all that, but in times like these people are given to exaggeration, and, on talking the matter over candidly with Mr. Bluff, I find that he is entirely innocent of the charges pre- ferred against him by the partisan press of Virginia.’? An oath fell from the lips of Colonel Trafton. He was quite beside himself. now. as ‘The people of the Shenandoah Valley are anx- ious to learn of the death of ‘Traitor Mose, and I will — not let this chance slip through my fingers—he must — die!’ | Again Colonel Trafton advanced upon the helpless man in the arm-chair. “i ‘(He shall not die!’’ she exclaimed. | ‘“Stand aside, Bertha!’’ commanded the Confeder- ate colonel. ‘‘People would never forgive me; even Mosby, whom we all love, would drive me from his command in disgrace did he know that Traitor Mose was in my power and I permitted him to escape. No! though angels plead, I would not spare the life of this man!’ :