A Silver Brand — page 287: what you’re looking at

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

A SILVER BRAND. 279 pleasanter and wiser for you to be out of sight, if there is a thorough investigation made.” And his suggestion was obeyed. CHAPTER XXVIII. DEATH OF THE PRINCE AND KING. Many agitated, tearful explanations had been ex- changed, and the basis of new and tender friendships formed before that next day noon brought the same group ~ together. There was no longer any doubt or fear among them. Von Schubert came softly into their midst, and said solemnly : “The prince is dead !” Not another word needed. A long profound silence fell upon them all. Lady Theresa stretched out her hand to him, and he took.it tenderly, but without other speech than the dumb caress could give her. Lady Pauline sat with clasped hands and prayerful eyes lifted upward. Aubrey’s arm was around her, and Lina was leaning at their feet, a hand with each, but they both felt that her thoughts were away with the husband she had lost. How long the silence would have lasted could not be tld, for there came a sudden, hurrying step, and Stephano rushed into the room. “Father, Theresa—are they here? Serena, Lina. Oh, Heaven be praised that you are safe!” he ejaculated, in- coherently ashe dashed from one tothe other, and re- mained at last holding Serena’s hand clutched in his. And then he turned with a joyful smile to Lina. “Tina, dear, there is some one else below. Who do you think I chanced uponas I made my hasty exit from the wharf, where they tumbled me off so unceremoniously ? Itis so strange, so almost incredible! My Serena, your wise forethought brought it about. The bottle you threw into the water reached the shore, and the finder carried it _ to Nat, who was just able to sit up in his bed, after that severe sickness. He lost no time, ill though he was; he took the first steamer across the water. He and Paul and Penelope Foss, little Lina. They are fairly dying to clasp you in their arms.” Eomicbooks (Efe)