A Silver Brand — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

A SILVER BRAND, | 141 He had his hand on the little cord that regulated a valve, as he spoke. “ Afraid!” replied she. ‘‘I am afraid of nothing except what I have escaped from there. May Heaven forever bless you. Go up, as high as you will, I shall not falter nor tremble—only rejoice. Oh, it was to the skies alone I have made my appeal, and at last they have sent their - messenger to release me.” The sronaut gave a single glance and saw the hands clasped, the eyes closed, and the pale lips moving in voice- less prayer, and turned away in respectful silence. He did not speak until she moved, and bent down a little, when he cried, warningly : : ¢ “ Pray be cautious. To one unused-to such experience the first look down is dizzying and painful.” ‘But it will not be so for me,,” she returned, calmly: “IT hardly think that the tirst glimpse of land can be so beautiful to the shipwrecked mariner as this pathless track of ours looks tome. The roof below is already like a speck. Ah, me, to think at last I have left it, have escaped my prison!” she repeated, with growing exulta- tion, her eyes shining with a light that was almost dazzling. “When you have rested and are composed,” he said, quietly, “you may tell me your story.” She gave a little start, and a troubled look came into her eyes. G4 : "Coto be sure. See how intoxicated I have been with the ecstasy of freedom! I had forgotten that there was any- thing peculiar in the circumstances, or that you would naturally enough require some explanation of my extra- ordinary situation. Oh, that this winged car might be able to bear me to another land, to cross the wide ocean, to light like a tired bird on the free shore of America! How easy then, and how happy my way would be!” ‘‘But that is impossible. I have only made short trips of a few hours’ duration,” returned the zronaut. “I am already considering what risk I run and what dangers I may encounter if ITremain up untiil dusk allows me to conceal my passenger’s existence. For I take it if there is one who takes such pains to imprison you, that one will also be on the lookout to discover the method of your escape.” “T do not think it possible they could any of them sur- mise it. Poor Seippel and his wife will verily believe that the skies themselves opened for me at their fervent prayer, But for him, mine enemy——” Eomicbooks (e{e)