A Silver Brand — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

A SILVER BRAND. 111 leave it any less sweet and lovely. She clasped her hands, and looked up into my face with the tears misting her eyes. ‘**Oh, if I knew, if I only knew, would I not bid you throw out the sail speedily? But that is what you are to do forme. See.’ | ‘She laid in my hand the drawing upon which she had been occupied. I looked at it with keen interest, for it was evidently a coat of arms. | “ *Tt belongs to me, or I belong to it. I have stolen this clasp to-day to copy it out. It was the clasp to a bracelet I wore when I was a little babe. I learned that much from Auntie Pen. Year by year links have been added to the bracelet, but the clasp was long ago hidden away from me. But I found it in Auntie Pen’s drawer one day, and I coaxed enough out of her to know that it means some- thing, which she dares not tell. They tell other people that I am their niece, but they do not try to impose upon me. I knew somebody would come who would find it out forme. It is you; take it, and search for me, and when you find out what it means, oh, come back to me speedily. Somewhere, oh, somewhere, I know—I am sure by the yearning aching of my heart—there is a loving spirit yearning and aching for me also. Find me father or mother, brother or sister, or at least the ancestral roof where that coat of arms belongs.’ “T could not help being deeply moved by her earnest- ness, and dropped my sportive tone and looked carefully at the drawing, while I said : ‘‘ ‘Tt is a happy thing that I am just on the eve of a pro- tracted European tour. Such badges and insignia belong to the old countries. You do not expect to find them here in America, I judge.’ “¢VYou are going to Europe! Oh, I knew akind fate sent you hither. Shall you goto France and Germany? T am sure in one or the other you will find the answer to my riddle. You are indeed the fairy prince! You will find it for me!’ “T looked at the tiny golden clasp in her hand, and saw — that it bore, in minute and daintily graven lines, the same design which she had enlarged in the drawing. “ *T will certainly try,’ answered I, while I put the paper carefully in my pocket-book. “ ¢ And when you find it you will hurry back to me?’ “ ¢Shall I find you here on the rock?’ I asked, Gomicbooks ecom