A Silver Brand — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

50 A SILVER BRAND. | tired look on his face, and his hands crossed list- lessly upon his knees. His daughter was still sing- ing, but the wail of the parting hymn had changed into a glad peal of triumph. | : Von Schubert bit his hp angrily as he looked at er, | “Well,” said she, a certain nervous excitement lending a sharper tone to her voice; “this act 1s over, most noble Von Schubert. I suppose we ought to thank you that you have permitted us to play it out. Youcan lock up the stage properties again, and turn down the lights.” While she spoke, she unfastened the costly Schwarzenberg jewels from her forehead, bared her arms, her fingers, flung them all into a glitter- ing heap, made.a mocking courtesy, and swept away. : “You are cruel, and wantonly so,” returned Von Schubert, fiercely. “You know that you might wear what you please every day of your life, were it not that I am responsible to my royal master.” Her bitter laugh floated back again for sole reply. “And my prison life begins again!” said the baron, gloomily. “Perhaps you are right, Von Schubert; perhaps you are bound to obey your master’s commands, and do not know how to do it gently. I confess I have believed it a congenial task; but it may be 1am wrong. One is not apt to love the hand that bars the door of liberty, though it be only a hireling’s. Let it pass. My poor Stephano waits me in his sick-chamber.” Von Schubert summoned a servant. The jewels were carefully restored to their casket, and the latter placed where the massive family silver brought forth for the banquet was already being stowed. The grim iron keys were given into Von Schubert’s keeping. He shut his lips together fiercely, as he took them, and strode away, mutter- ing: “This task of mine grows irksome and fretting. © - LThated the baron with a deadly hatred, but it melts before this wild, niad love which his daughter has comicbooks: com