Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

110 THE BURNING BARN. mistaken idea, and all her wrath was directed against Captain Chetwood and his companions. “Captain Chetwood, at last you have succeeded in destroying my uncle’s property. I once imagined you too magnanimous, or rather too much of a~- Christian to. countenance this barbarous war waged by Sheridan and his underlings against women and children; but I now see that I was mistaken. ”’ ‘“Bertha, what are you saying ?’’ cried the captain. ‘I’m not a barbarian; neither am Ia savage. Where- in have I offended you ?”’ He was laughing at her, and she realized it with a new burst of anger. : ‘“Hypocrite !”’ ‘“There, Miss McVane, that will do,’’ assuming a sudden sternness not usual with him when addressing a woman. ‘You seem to wish to abuse me for saving property, and perhaps life, that was of no interest to me whatever—the property of an enemy.”’ ‘‘Again I must repeat my expression—hypocrite!”’ uttered the fair Confederate, with an emphasis not to be mistaken. ‘‘You are pleased to be severe, cutting. Do you imagine that I set fire to your uncle’s barn??? ‘ST do.” 2 ‘Your perceptive faculties are too sharp, Miss Mc- Vane. “I was certainly a long way from here when that fire was started.”? ‘‘Not far, [am sure. You appeared on the scene about the same time we noticed the fire.’ ‘‘And so you connected me with this incendia- rism ??? , ‘“How could I do otherwise ?”’ : The captain’s yellow mustache was raised in a smile. | ‘What a fiery little creature you are, Bertha. I solemnly assure you that I had no more to do with starting that fire than the Bey of Tunis.” (E(@) comicbooks