A Silver Brand — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

136 A SILVER BRAND. He picked it up, and recognized it at once as the orna- ment of Stephano’s foreign shoes. More terrible still was something crumpled in a heap under the locker. How Nat’s hand shook as he drew it forth, and smoothed ten- derly out the broken strands of straw and the crushed © humming-bird. “Tt is her’s—Serena’s—and, oh! they were together. They have shared the same fate whatever it may be. Now, may Heaven help us!” he cried out, in a voice that was sharp with anguish. CHAPTER XIII. “VEN THE SKIES ARE DEAF.” “My lady, I fear you are ill,” ventured Seippel’s wife, in a deeply compassionate tone, coming up to the roof and finding the pale prisoner kneeling down before her chair, with her face buried in her hands. Lady Pauline lifted her head, and looked at the speaker with weary, sorrowful eyes. “Well,” she answered, “even rocks they say, are worn down at last. What wonder that at length my spirit faints, my heart fails, my body breaks down? Woman, woman, I have lost my courage at last.” “Poor soul!” ejaculated Lisbet, the quick tears filling her eyes, while those that looked upon her so despairingly were dry and burning. “You pity me, but you will not help me,” said the lady, plaintively. “Even the skies are deaf. Woe is me! I ought to rejoice if this is the first step in a decline, that will bear me speedily to my grave.” “You sent back your breakfast untouched,” proceeded Lisbet, tremulously. ‘‘It 1s the surest way to lose cour- age. I have brought you some mulled wine. Drink it, I pray you, and perhaps your appetite will return.” She rose slowly and seated herself in the chair, but waved back the proffered glass. ‘Nay, nay; why should I force myself to take anything, or seek to renew unavailing strength? I tell you, Lisbet, for the first time in all these years I have lost my courage.” “Dear heart !” wailed Lisbet, sinking down on one knee, “do not, I pray you, oh, do not despair now! Help may come yet.” “How?” demanded the lady, feverishly. ‘Oh, Lisbet, Lisbet, will you relent? You pity me, I know you do. Eomicbooks (ele)