A Silver Brand — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

130 A SILVER BRAND. commencement, that I built all my hopes upon your love for the girl. You will help me save her, Miss Foss.” “Who are you?” demanded she. “A friend to Lina. That ought to satisfy you! One who means to save her at any cost. For her sake put away your distrust, and help me in aplan to spirit her away before the messenger comes,” he said, beseechingly. “T know that my only help comes from you. The rest of your family are firm in their devotion and loyalty, mistaken though it may be. There is no hope of moving them.” | “No, no more than of stirring the rocks yonder. Theo- dosia would not hesitate to give her life for the accom- plishment of this prolonged trust, nor Paul, nor Urban. Me you expect to be weaker and less trustworthy? Well, it is true, it is true !” There was a depth of bitterness and self-accusation in the stifled voice in which she spoke, and she pressed her . hands wildly against her forehead. “Nay,” rejoined the taxidermist, cheerfully and sooth- ‘ingly. “You I count more reasonable, and gentle, and tender because of your love for Lina. Besides, if my sus- picions had any foundation, you had a faint glimpse of the cloven foot in the old days, and are more ready to admit the possibility of princely villainy. There was some foul play in the case of Konrad Darn. I think you must have discovered it.” Penelope gave a low cry that was almost a scream. ‘Konrad Darn! Who speaks a name that has been buried for eighteen years and more? Man, man, who are you? Give me your name!” f ‘‘Not yet. Enough that I am Lina’s friend, and yours if you will. But tell me if I may count upon your help.” “Give me time to think. I must have time to think,” answered Penelope, trembling from head to foot. | ‘“You will keep my secret knowledge of all this from your family?” he demanded. ‘Yes, yes; I must. I dare not do otherwise. More secrets, more deceit, deeper inward pangs!” she groaned. ‘But all may come right yet,” he said, gently. Her hands were wrung together, fierce and hard; her eyes were lifted to the sky, shrinking, and yet half be- — seechingly. “Oh?!” she murmured, “I am punished! Bitterly, bit- terly am I reaping what I sowed unthinkingly! Is there but one way of expiation ?” comicbooks.¢co