Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

TWO IS COMPANY, BUT THREE IS A CROWD. 23 the nest in which you were reared! Hark! You hear yonder guns? <A million hearts are at this moment beating in unison with their thunder! A million men are ready to draw their swords for the defense of a principle! Are you worthy to take your place by their side? No! A man whocan coolly and desig- nedly wrong a woman is acoward who will shrink at the first emergency !”? Her voice smote Ezra’s ears like the trumpet tone of an accusing angel. He wiithed under her innuendoes. He ground his teeth impatiently as she hurled the anathema of her scorn upon his head. And he knew he deserved it all. He knew he was a villain. | Yet what scoundrel, polished though he be, is willing to accept the verdict his deeds merit? ‘“You are hard upon me,’’ he said, at last, ‘‘and have taken me by surprise. I must have time to think. You will be home this evening, I suppose??? | There was a cold glitter in his eyes which, as his — face was in the shadow, she did not notice. ‘“Ves,’’ she said, simply, ‘‘I am always at home.”? ‘TY will call some time after dark. I will see what I can do, as you are so determined upon your course. It is a misfortune to me that you have sought me out. You have me on the hip, and like a woman,”’ with a sneer, “‘you press your advantage. ’’ The innuendo was not -lost on Mary Bluff. “Tt is worthy of you to scoff at what you are least capable of appreciating. You cannot forget that you had a mother, and that the taunt you cast on woman must also reflect on her.’’ ‘No more of this,’? he said, impatiently, taking up his hat. ‘‘I will call to-night.”’ ‘“And I will expect you,’’ she said, with marked significance. The interview ended abruptly, and Captain Traf- comicbooks (E(@) ~~