A Silver Brand — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

A SIL VER BRAND. 15 as the most ardent lover of the picturesque could desire. | | First of all, most prominent in the view, was the river, broad and full, and “deeply, darkly blue”— _ the beautiful river that Dalberg had followed in his travels, mile upon mile, lingering here at the proud old cities, and there at some castle-crowned crag, and always finding something charming, albeit weird and strange, upon its picturesque banks. On the right and on the left it spread forth majestically, but immediately in front of them the blue flash of dimpling water was broken up by a small island formed of triple hills, the central one the highest, the outlines of the three shaded off by the dark green foliage of magnificent trees, and sloping away in the most graceful lines, while below, ter- races of velvety turf and sloping lawns of emerald hue, cut clear and sharp by white avenues winding upward, showed it was a spot of careful culture. Above, crowning the central height, rose the grace- ful chimneys and the square towers of an enormous building, massive enough for a fortress, and as grand a specimen of architecture as a royal palace: Behind the island. spread again the blue glitter of the divided river, and then the villa-sprinkied shore, and for a background rose the distant mountain peaks, their tops silver-white with unmelting snows. This lovely isle did not lie in the center of the river, but was nearer the shore below them by one- half at the least than to the opposite banks. With this shore it was connected by a long arched bridge, which formed as picturesque a feature as the scene offered. “How very beautiful!” repeated Aubrey Dalberg. “Do you know, Count Roderich, I am almost re- - luctant to take another step; Iam afraid of dis- solving a spell of enchantment.” | “There is no fear,” returned his companion. “The building isa very fine specimen of the old architecture. Do you know the old portcullis foun- dations were laid before your western home was dreamed about in the world’s geography? And the house has wings and improvements dating through com cComicbooks