Beadle's Dime Novels No. 85: The Fugitives — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

64 THR FUGITIVES. Had Mrs. Abingdon and her daughter been gtyen a glim of what. was going on at that moment all around them, th would have been thankfiW for the consideration with whic they were treated. They could not tell where they were going it is true; but they had little fears for their safety. They di not understand the depravity of the human heart. Thei anxiety was regarding George Abingdon and Stoddard Frank lin. Were either or both alive? Had they not fallen in th dreadful conflict ?”: | | “If they were alive and knew,” sald the mother, ag sh held her daughter clasped to her heart, “it would not be Jon that we had to suffer this indignity.” “I fear for them, and yet I feel hopeful that they havé escaped.” “You speak as though both were in the battle.” “ Both were ; I know it,” returned Annie, confidently. “How I have prayed and prayed this afternoon. Never have I plead with my Maker as I have to-day. And you?” “Do you think I could have forgotten the only One to whom we could look? Ah! no, mother!” | “Tam almost despairing. If poor George is killed, what will become of us ?” “I hope he is not; I seem to feel it. You are unusually low-spirited.. Cheer up, dear mother.” “The woods are so gloomy that I can not feel otherwise than deeply sad. The battle went against us, and who can tell what the dreadful consequences must be ?” “ We are safe ourselves, which is more than many others can say.” “ How can you say we are safe, when we are in the hands of these savages, who would as lief kill us as allow us to live.” “I do not think they would harm us—they seem to be well enough disposed toward us.” “ How can you judge of their intentions ?” “YT can not with certainty. I think they simply wish to make us prisoners, in the hope, perhaps, of getting a large ransom.” | “It may be that, and it may be worse. We can not surely call it safe to be placed in their power.” “T am certain I should rather be here than in our house to- connmicloooks.comn)