A Silver Brand — page 153: what you’re looking at

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

A SILVER BRAND. | 145 diamonds, and a magnificent cluster ring of the same costly gems. | ‘It will, indeed, neéd caution,” answered he. ‘‘It will -be a suspicious thing for the poor eronaut to offer such costly jewels even to an unscrupulous broker.” And then seeing the troubled look that flitted across her face, he added, cheerfully, “But we will find the way, never fear that. The little fraulein has quick wits—we will trust her in the matter.” , “T should not blame her if she refused me a place in her house, bringing you into such danger as I do,” returned the lady, bravely. ‘You do not know her. Wait till you see what loving ways she has. She cannot be cross to a’ stray cat or a meddlesome boy, and last of all a noble lady in such trouble as yours,” the husband returned, proudly. “Shut your eyes a moment, for the descent causes a little dizziness.” A moment after he added, eagerly, ‘“‘And now madam may look, and perhaps she will understand the fascination which is beyond wine or dice for the zeronaut.”’ “How glorious! Oh, this beautiful world!” exclaimed — Lady Pauline, with as much admiration as he could de- “gire, and then, softly sighing, she added,. “‘ How the angels must grieve to see its loveliness marred by the wicked deeds of man !” , . “Ay, it is beautiful!” returned the master of the bal- loon; ‘‘is it not worth all the risk, all the peril? Behold! there is* the river, and see how majestic is its course. The town looks like a queer colony of ant-hills, and if you look closely you will see what is like aswarm of gnats, but it is the people. The most majestic of all is but a mite at this distance.” “Tt is so long since I have seen the river and the town,” murmured the lady, wistfully, and then a hot rain of tears deluged her face. “Oh, the crushing bereavements, the woeful wrongs, the wearing anguish I have endured since! It is almost like rising out of a grave and looking back into the world, this strange experience. [cannot realize all it means, I am numb—dazed. Eighteen years ago since I also mingled in the gay crowd down there, as gay, as light-hearted, and thoughtless of evil as the youngest babe that nestles in some mother’s arms to-day. And now I am here, above the world, in the clouds, gazing down. Am I awake? am I inmyright mind? Speak, answer me, I implore you.” The seronaut took her hand in his, and while he stroked Eomichoo SS) (6(@) m