A Silver Brand — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

144 A SILVER BRAND. kind friend, are you prepared to hear me say it must be every one? for there will be watchfulness on all sides, ay, almost as if it were the king himself.” “So bad as that?” answered the wronaut. ‘“ Well, all the more honor and satisfaction if we succeed. It is well we have the luncheon; this wind, I foresee, will carry us much beyond our destination; but we must never risk landing in daylight. A balloon draws a crowd at any time, and it will make more stir if a lady like yourself is seen descending from it. You are shivering, and no won- der, in your unprotected state. Wrap this fur blanket about you, and tie the scarf more closely. I will descend — presently to a more comfortable temperature ; but just now we are crossing the towns and villages scattered along the river, and I prefer not to attract attention.” ‘““The river! The Danube? Oh, if I might look upon it nearer! Itis eighteen years since my eyes were glad- dened by its.sparkling beauty.” “‘T will discharge a little of the gas, and we will take such a glorious view as only the birds and the stars get. One day, please Heaven, I mean to be able to rise and de- scend at pleasure—to sail here and there through the clouds, as the ships plow the ocean, or the horsemen gal- lop along the land.” . His eye shone, his cheek flushed as he said it. ‘You are an enthusiast in your work,” said she. , ‘‘Ay, but a sad one. I shall never have the means to pursue my experiments to the extent necessary. As it is, I sometimes wonder my wife does not reproach me for squandering upon my balloon the few earnings I manage to accumulate; and yet my faith in the ability to some- time gain the glorious end never wavers. Ah! if I suc- ceed my name will go down to posterity and my wife will reap a golden reward for her patience and faith.” | His whole face shone with the glory of the imagined SUCCESS. ‘You have done a glorious thing with your balloon al- . ready, let what other failure come that may,” said the lady, gently ; “‘and you shall not lose by it if only my prayers prevail. You have saved one to whom earthly relief seemed quite impossible and vain to hope for. Thank Heaven! I am not quite desitute, and need not tax your purse as well as your kindness. We must manage to dispose of these stones, one by one.” | As she spoke she drew forth from her bosom a small case, and opening it, showed him a cross sparkling with comicbooks com