A Silver Brand — page 289: what you’re looking at

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

A SILVER BRAND. ) 281 he had been holding Serena’s hands in his, and tenderly soothing the tidings he brought of the poor old grand- mother’s sudden but peaceful end. His eye came to Lady Pauline’s face at last, and, turn- ing frightfully pale, he caught at Serena’s shoulder, and steadied himself there. “Serena, what does she mean? Who is the blue-eyed | lady yonder ?” he gasped, faintly. | “Ttis true, Mr. Nathaniel, it is Lina’s mother. Ah, me, itis the most I envy her. Is she not noble and beautiful ? All my heart pours itself in admiration at her feet. Itis the Baroness Schwarzenberg, Mr. Nathaniel. She has suffered everything and yet has been so brave and true and loyal to her dead husband. Her story will melt your ; heart. The prince gave out that she was dead. He car- ried her away to a gloomy house in the forest and kept her there year after year, adding hardship to hardship to force her to yield the secret hiding-place of some import- ant papers and to consent to receive his suit. Such a won- derful, grand creature as every look and word proves her! Oh, if I were Lina I should almost reverence the groun on which she treads.” ) He shut his eyes a moment, and she felt the tremble _ and quiver that ran through his frame. | ‘Vou are ill—you are too much overcome, dear Mr. Nathaniel,” she whispered. “Yes, let me sit down quietly. Say nothing, my child, I shall soon recover.” ; She obeyed him, quietly brought a chair, and put him into it, and stood before him as a shield. Paul Foss had proceeded toward the larger group. He — approached Herr von Schubert hesitatingly. ‘You have received the young lady. I hope you are not angry with us for this strange and unwarrantable appear- ance of hers. Itis still a mystery to us. And his high- ~ ness is. dead Iam told. Did he die without knowing of | her arrival? I hope he was not seriously angry with us.” “Nay,” replied Von Schubert, gravely, “no one can ac- cuse you of failing to perform your duty in this matter. I am aware of the reward promised you, the restoration of the family estate that was forfeited by your grandfather. ~ Circumstances have changed all things, but if Iremain of: _ - influence with the present king, whose situation is pre- — carious in the extreme or with his successor, my influence shall be exerted to secure the fulfillment of the agreement. Still I must warn you that such may not be the case. | Gomicbooks (Efe)