A Silver Brand — page 281: what you’re looking at

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

A SILVER BRAND, 273 for which I have bided eighteen years. waits fruition ?” continued the prince. “‘Now will my promise and my power be thoroughly vindicated. Now comes the strain that will break at last that indomitable spirit. Send in your men from the lower passage, Hernberg, and drive up ~the hiding inmates of the secret passage-way.” Valentin Baer turned slowly and stiffly, but the cruel man, whose will for the time was law, made an imperative gesture. “Nay, wait. a little longer, and you will be repaid, I promise you. My prisoner within is no common person- age. You will be interested to look upon a face that will seem to rise out of the grave for you.” The baron turned his startled eyes upon him, opened his lips, and then closed them mutely. “Yes,” muttered the prince, pacing to and fro, in the excitement and fever of his anticipated triumph, “at last she will yield. Atlast the slow approaching victory is gained, and my revenge complete.” His eye was glancing restlessly and expectantly along ae paneled walls. From which side would open the secret oor ? : Hernberg had given his signal. Every one waited breathlessly. Even the two wondering maidens to whom this strange scene was a complete mystery and bewilder- ment felt the thrill of premonition. For all its crowd of witnessses no sound was in the gallery after the muttered tones of the prince died out, but a profound, expectant stillness. : The muffled shout of the pursuing guard came through the, thick walls to them, and then distinctly the sound of flying feet. Another instant and the panel, with the old knight’s picture, swung noiselessly open, and Wirt Wom- berg stepped forth hastily. He stopped as if transfixed with horror at the sight be- fore him, and making a warning gesture, tried to push back some one-who followed behind. But she had already seen the jeering smile, the flaming, exulting face of the prince, and recognized the uselessness of any resistance, while a wild hope that among some of the company she might find compassion, possibly a generous intervention, impelled her forward. She stepped forth, even in that moment, with a queenly, ~ majestic bearing and had never looked more beautiful - -even in her days of youthful bloom. The pallor of the smooth, unwrinkled complexion held the clear trans- EomMiIGchooks.co