A Silver Brand — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

aa 10 A SILVER BRAND. cause I wanted you to come to this hour fresh and strong, capable of enduring an agony which weak- ness is fortunate to faint under. J am only begin- ning my torments; before they are half expended, you will bend the knee in supplication; you will yield graciously to my solicitations; you will accept my friendship; you will confess where you have hidden those important-papers.” “Never!” burst forth from her, passionately; “never, pitiable tyrant. Iam beyond your power even now. You may imprison me—what care lI, since there is no charm left in all the earth to which | can respond?. You may torture me—I can bear it, unless it goes too far; then that will be the happiest release of all, for I can die, and join my beloved in heaven.” “Wait until you know what trial will come to you, madam, before you are too confident. I tell you that you will yield even the papers, or the knowledge of their hiding-place. Why, indéed, should you not? What possible use are they to you, shut up here for life.” “Sometime they will clear my husband’s honor- able name, and prove your villainy. I would die a dozen deaths by torture rather than yield them up to you.” | He gazed upon the undaunted face with a malig- nant fury. : “Poor fool! read the letters, and see what bless- ing you are forfeiting by this obstinacy.” He tossed. a package of letters to her feet. She glanced at them disdainfully, but made no effort to raise them. He only laughed as he turned. ._ “1 can afford to try a new plan,” he sneered. And, proceeding to the head of the stairs, he blew a blast upon a golden whistle hanging from a mas- sive chain across his breast. . beippel came promptly, and bent low in reverence. “Ho, there! bring hoes and shovels, and such im- plements as you need to root up these foolish plants. i have a fancy to be amused with watching the comicbooks.co