Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

bat BETRAYED AND BETRAYER. Sara d tend to ie recognized as your wife—publicly before the world.’”’ | _ “Nothing can be gained by our reunion,” he said, slowly. ‘Our reunion!’ she said, bitterly; ‘‘I care not for that. I could never live with you again. The past is dead as though it never existed. I am a Virginian, accustomed to regard honor as man’s noblest posses- sion. You have shattered that idol as respects your- self; that I could love—fondly, passionately, unre- servedly, you have long since discovered. That I can hate and despise the man who employed the artifice of an evil nature to ruin me—you have yet to learn.”’ Captain Trafton shivered under his cool exterior. This calm, impassive arraignment of his villainy was something he had not bargained for. He had expected tears, reproaches, the almost mute appeal of a meek and unprotected woman. He was nonplused, and for afew minutes a deep silence ensued. It had been his intention to temporize, to Raion to threaten if necessary. Now the cowardly element of his nature forced its way to the surface, and for the moment he was be- wildered and hesitated how to proceed. ‘‘T have an imperative reason for insisting cn my ‘recognition, however,’’ she continued, with resolute mien. ‘‘My own right I might resign, but I cannot resign the right of your son and heir.’’ The effect of these words was tremendous. The captain sprang to his feet, fairly livid with rage and consternation. ‘Woman,’ he exclaimed, hoarsely, ‘‘what infernal plot are you trying to spring upon me? Son, indeed? I have no son!”? “Vou have, Ezra Trafton,’’ said Mary, also rising, and regarding him with a mixture of loathing and contempt; ‘‘ourv child was born six weeks ago.”’ Gomicboo (E(0) m S