A Silver Brand — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

A SILVER BRAND. 149 “Tt is not: Lina! Oh, Heaven have mercy! it is not Lina.” A brief time longer and there was no opportunity for doubt. No, it was not Lina nor was ‘it Serena. A stout-armed man, a stranger, was rowing two old ee who seemed quite as agitated as the group on shore The pale, mild-eyed old lady at the bow rose up before the boat touched the shore, and stretching out her arms, asked, piteously : “Do you know anything about my granddaughter? Is Serena here? Serena has not come home, and I am fright- ened about her.” “Serena!” exclaimed Dhpbdosii Foss, harshly ; “ what matter about Serena? She deserves whatever fate has ~ come upon her. She led Lina into this trouble. “Would to Heaven we had never heard Serena’s name !” Poor Madame Peyron stared at the fierce-eyed, grim- looking woman in frightened dismay. But Nat hastily interposed, and hurried down to the boat to assist her trembling steps. , * “Do not heed such ungracious words. Madam, your granddaughter was in no wise blameable. She was every-. thing good, and gentle, and lovely. But alas, you find us unable to explain her mysterious absence.” And then in gentle, respectful tones he related the strange event of the previous evening. . Good Mrs. Haynes burst into wild lamentation... “Oh, Madame Peyron, what will you do? what ever will you do? Oh, that sweet angel, that made sunshine in every spot she showed her face. She is drowned ; she is murdered !” The poor old lady put both hands on Nat’s arm to steady » her wavering figure, the tears poured over her cheeks, but she controlled herself enough to ask, composedly : “You are good and kind, sir. Will you tell me what I must do to find the dear child? I ama feeble, ignorant old woman; tell me what I ought to do.” “Go home, and try to be patient,” he answered, tremu- lously. “ Pray for her, my dear madam, and leave the rest tous. We are to search every way for Serena’s friend. What means are used for one will of course an- swer for the other. Go back and keep yourself as calm as possible. I know what your grief is, and sympathize with it. I am Nat, the taxidermist, and you know I was very fond of Serena. I will leave no means untried to find her, Eomicbhoo (0) cS mm