A Silver Brand — page 260: what you’re looking at

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

Ong A SILVER BRAND, The poor creature had almost a thrill of happiness when at length, one morning early, Nat opened his eyes upon her face and exclaimed, faintly to be sure, but in his nat- ural voice : | : “Miss Penelope Foss—why, how does it happen that you are here?” = ~ ) “You have been ill. I came to take care of you. Let me give you some drink now,” she answered as calmly as possible, while her heart was thumping so violently. He took it passively, but his eyes were moving around the room with a bewildered trouble in them. Suddenly he gave a quick start, and spoke up sharply : “Where is my writing-desk? Who has moved away my red, brass-bound box !” Penelope looked around. ‘The writing-desk, the: red, brass box,” repeated she, slowly; ‘‘why, there has been nothing like that here since I came.” His eyes were flaming up fiercely—he lifted a. weak, tremulous hand, which fell down limp and helpless. And then again he stared around in bewilderment, and faltered : ‘‘T do not understand.” | 3 ‘‘Because you have been ill so long,” explained she, gently. ‘‘You were hurt the night after Lina and Serena disappeared. Don’t you remember that I found you struggling with aman onthe sands, and you sent me to White for help? Oh, I remember; there was such a box there. I carried it to White’s and set it down by the door, but what became of it I can’t tell.” : She was interrupted by a heavy groan. Memory had returned. He recalled everything now. : “How long ago is it?” he questiond, feebly, when he rallied. “Three weeks.” “And they are found? Surely they are found ?” She shook her head and pressed her hand against her forehead as she answered, in that hollow, despairing tone : “There is not a trace. Oh, sir, there is not a single trace.” : He lay back white and helpless, and closed his eyes as if dizzy with the rush of thought. | She arose, and brought cold water and sponged his face and his hands, but had not a word of comfort to speak. “Poor thing!” he murmured, when he looked at her again, and pressed her hand with a feeble clasp. “You have been very kind to care for me all this time. You (Xo payicel eveKey <S (e(@) :