A Silver Brand — page 206: what you’re looking at

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

198 A SILVER BRAND, heaped all the food she could find into a basket, seized a. great jug, and filled it full of water, and hastened without any light to guide her up to the old wardrobe in the attic. Lady Pauline came at the low, imploring call, and helped slide open the rack of the wardrobe. ‘‘ELasten to take these in, and let me. hurry back,” cried Crezence. “The police are on poor Carl’s track. They are coming to inquire about his balloon ascension. It may be we shall not be able to see you for several days, for I am sure we shall be watched closely, if not taken away to prison. If you hear me sing gayly you will know there is imminent danger; and that you must keep utterly quiet. I will use a mournful tune to give you assurance of con- tinued hope and safety.” | The poor little woman’s voice was full of terror, not for herself, but for her husband. The heart-smitten fugitive heard it. - “Alas!” she cried, “itis more bitter than my own danger to think of the loss and trouble that may come to you. Let me escape into the street, and trust to Heaven’s pro- tection.” aK , | “No, no,” returned Crezence, firmly, recalled to her own brave, generous spirit. “I counted the cost before. It is only our duty that we do. Pray be patient and as hopeful as may be: Adieu! Remember to listen for my singing. I may make its words all my method of com- munication with you.” , - And she ran back to her post, and was sitting rocking the cradle and singing at the top of her voice, asif nota care in the world rested upon her spirit, when the dreaded summons came to call her to the door. She felt her heart throbbing wildly, but she hardly stop- ped her song, and tripped lightly to open the door, drop- ping a low courtesy, as she met the glance of two strangers. ‘“Does one Carl Koeppel, an eronaut, live here?” asked the foremost man. , ‘He does, sir. Will you be pleased to walkin. He has gone out with a comrade, but he will be home shortly.” The two men exchanged glances. ‘“‘T must go along,” said the one in the rear. ‘‘And I will come in and wait,” quoth the other. Crezence tripped back and set a chair for him, then re- turned to her cradle and her work. The man watched the beaming, apparently artless face in close scrutiny for a moment or two, and then asked ; | 5 GComicbooks, (e(oy