A Silver Brand — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

¢ 148 A SILVER BRAND. northern shore, and she was still searching bush and thicket, calling in low and passionate entreaty upon Lina’s name. “It is useless to give further attention here,” said Nat, coming up to Paul and Urban Foss. ‘‘Whatever has taken those girls away has removed them safely from this vicin- ity. I propose to go over tothe nearest town, and give the matter at once into the hands of the proper authorities. It is the surest and speediest way of finding them.” Paul and Urban looked at each other gloomily. “T suppose there is no other way,” said Paul, wearily ; ‘but the publicity will be very trying.” Here Theodosia rushed forward, exclaiming: : “A boat has passed off from the other shore. Don’t you see a woman’s shawl fluttering? Oh, they have found her. She is coming back.” | Nat sprang upon a rock, and flashed an eagle glance across the water. ‘““Yes, yes. I do believe there are two women there, and a man rowing them. Oh, the Lord be praised !” And Rhoda took up the glad cry, and fell into a hysteri- cal passion of weeping. The whole group hurried down to the landing, and the joyful talk reached Penelope’s ears, and she came bounding around the point, her eyes glisten- ing with a wild feverish glare that made them seem unnat- urally large as they looked forth from the ghastly face. “She is coming; oh, Penelope, she is coming!” ex- claimed Rhoda. — aiwateds gave the speaker a sharp glance and an angry push. ‘‘Leave her alone. All this trouble comes out of Pen- elope’s fine management. If the girl were really lost, my curse should follow my father’s.” see, Penelope shivered, and rushed up to Nat. ‘Is it true? Is she really coming?” she asked, breath- lessly. “It looks like it,” returned Nat, in his gentlest tone. “Don’t you see the boat yonder, and there are two women in 1t certainly.” : But as the boat.came within nearer vision Nat’s heart sank again. If those bowed forms were the straight, slen- der figures whose graceful carriage identified them always. before the countenance was visible, what woeful thing had happened to Lina and Serena? He spoke not aword of alarm, however. It was Penelope who cried out first in sharp, agonized tones: Etoom , comicbooks _~s