A Silver Brand — page 97: what you’re looking at

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

A SILVER BRAND. | 89 Lina pushed away her loose sleeve and looked down at the broad band of»woven strands of gold which spanned her own wrist. ai tet “Mine can’t fray and break. It has loosened a little lately, though. I told Aunt Penelope of it, and she got the key and unlocked it and: took off the bracelet, and Urbanus did something to tighten it: ~ But it is still loose.” “What are, you talking about?” exclaimed Nat, coming hastily, and looking down with keen inter- | est upon the interlacing fingers. “About the marks upon our wrists. It is so odd that we should have them alike,” returned Lina, carelessly. “You know, Serena, it was that little circumstance that drew me to you first when we used to meet down there by the water.” : “The marks upon your wrists?” repeated Nat, in a startled tone. “ What marks, children?” Serena lifted her clear.eyes to his in surprise at the unwonted sharpness of the tone, but held forth her arm quietly. - “There are two round, spots on our wrists in just the same place, of exactly similar size, and colored alike, of this ugly, purplish-brown. We think nature. meant us to: be close. friends, that she left the same signet upor us both, Mr. Nathaniel. What do yousay?” -— | : The taxidermist seized upon either hand and laid them side by side, staring down with a fierce intent- ness that was only half-concealed. Lina held away the cumbrous golden band to give a better glimpse of hers, saying, pettishly: “T wonder I was ever foolish enough to consent to - wearing a locked bracelet. But I remember I thought it very fine to give up the velvet bows I wore when a little girl for this shining gold band. It has not left my wrist for a single day or night these three years back. Aunt Theodosia keeps the ke 99 - “Tt was your bracelet that made me think of velvet bands,” added Serena. “Although I have always been ashamed of the ugly blemish, I never thought of hiding it; and now, somehow, since you Eomicboo SS) (aCe)