A Silver Brand — page 286: what you’re looking at

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

278 - A SILVER BRAND. - and met the deprecating, tremulous glance of Valentin Baer. ‘‘My friend,” said he, ‘‘can you forgive one who has also suffered bitterly and long?” She put her hand in his frankly. “From the depths of my heart. I know now how cruelly you were deceived—what satanic influences urged you on. I know, moreover, that it was not by your hand that my Arnold perished.” =~ . Valentin hung his head, and a flush of bitter shame colored his very forehead. ‘‘Nay, I will not disguise the truth. I might have saved him. Oh, Heaven forgive me! I heard his drowning cry, and let him perish. I was tempted of the devil truly, and I yielded. Oh! canit be that these long, dragging years of misery and remorse have expiated my sin?” “Let us pray Heaven that it be so. If you are able you will help: reinstate his children in their rights, and bea kind and judicious friend: for them,” she returned, with gentle solemnity of, voice and look. “Or, if persecutions continue with that pitiless man’s revival, you will aid us to escape to safety.” ‘‘Heaven knows I would gladly lay down my life to 1e- store you to all the peace and joy I once connived to wrest away from you, Lady Pauline,” he returned, humbly. “I will not insult you by alluding tothe mad love lI bore you, nor to the bitter jealousy I felt toward my noble kinsman. If, as you say, you know how that arch de- ceiver cajoled me and fed me with mad hopes, you have an idea of the temptations which may not extenuate but may a little palliate my sin. Gladly will I relinquish all my usurped claims upon Schwarzenberg—joyfully do my best to bring back Arnold’s children to their rightful home, and when I see it accomplished it will give me the first peaceful hour I have known since your husband’s death.” ‘“‘T believe you,” answered Lady Pauline. “And now, pray, let us all try to find a little rest. These ladies, Iam sure, will need it, they look go thor- oughly exhausted,” said VonSchubert. ‘‘There is nothing to be done, no movement whatever made, until the physi- cians have pronounced their opinion. Let Theresa show you to her own apartments. The moment the doctors de- cide a messenger will be posted to court, It will be comicbooks.co