A Silver Brand — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

66 4 SILVER BRAND. “Nay, my Lina, you must not be unjust. They all love you, every one of them love you.” But the pretty head gave a willful shake. “Ttis avery proper love, such as the head sanc- tions, Auntie Pen; but, yours—yours is true, living love, bubbling right out of the heart. Ishould have starved but for you, Auntie Pen. Aunt Theodosia would say I was talking nonsense, but I am not—it is the truth.” Penelope’ choked back the sob that rose to her throat, but she could not dry away the dew of tears that flooded her eyes. She bent down to kiss the fair, smooth forehead. “Yes, it is the truth, Lina—Heaven knows it is the truth.” “Will you tell me, Auntie Pen, what this new movement means. Do you know I am to be locked up in this dreary old house—that lam to have no more rambles on the rocks, no more lonely strolls on the beach, no more pleasant little snatches of talk with the fishermen and their children? Worst of all, I cannot go to Nat’s cottage, nor meet my darling Rena! Auntie Pen, tell me what they mean? Do they intend to make a fossil of me? I tell you it was dreary and intolerable enough be- fore, but this will kill me! - The words came swiftly, and with passionate em- phatic emphasis; the eyes flashed, the slender frame quivered, the little hands worked tremulously. “Dear child, it is done in well-meaning. The case is peculiar. Do not speak so bitterly, asif it were wanton cruelty on their part,” returned Penelope, evidently deeply distressed by this appeal. “But it is cruel, nevertheless,” retorted Lina. “Why am I so surrounded with mystery? It is - cruel—yes, even in you, Auntie Pen—to conceal the truth, whatever it may be!” “I—cruel?” stammered Penelope. “Oh, my lamb, don’t say it, for it «stabs worse than a sword. Ah, heavens! because it is true! Lina, Lina, I own it! I have been cruel, wickedly cruel, to you; and yet I would die this moment to save you from sorrow or ~ _ danger. Oh! for my great love’s sake, say that = comicbooks Con