The Opposite House: A Novel — page 210: what you’re looking at

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

The Opposite House. 205 the high forehead was grave and furrowed by lines of thought. Now there was a terrible rigidity in every feature, a marble pallor which yielded only to the deep shadows under the closed eyes—the mysterious banner of Death, which he plants with a rude hand upon the countenances of his victims. Traugott gazed earnestly at this face, which con- jured up a flood of thoughts. Who could he be? Where was his distant home, which would give him no grave beside his loved ones? Whom did he leave behind in unutterable anguish? Perhapsa mother mourning her only child—her comfort, her hope; a mother whose sole joy was in those closed eyes, perhaps never more to open upon the light of this world. Oh, happy son, whose mother can re- member him in love and peace, who need never reproach himself with having darkened her life! Or did a betrothed bride await him—a young, loving creature, whom his strong arm was to guide? Will she not weep for him and daily pray for his return ? What was her appearance? Did she resemble that one image of maidenhood, fair and thoughtful, gentle and sweet as yonder little wild rose hanging by its broken stem from the bush? Or was she a true child of the Southern sun, laughing and viva- cious, mischievous and coquettish amid her wealth of waving brown locks ? Gerrald’s head sank lower. on his_breast. The CoMmicboOoks.c©