A Silver Brand — page 283: what you’re looking at

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

A SILVER BRA ND. 275 calm eyes in her. Have they told you, my darling, that it’s not. your mother’s fault, but her sorrowful fate, that has left you to grow up without her love and care? Did they explain to you that I was cheated into believing you dead ?—that I was borne away to a cruel prison ?—that I am the most persecuted, the most hopeless captive on the face of the wide earth?—and that he yonder, the deadly, malignant, pitiless foe of your father’s house is to be shun- ned as the deadliest pestilence? Do you know all this, my precious, my unhappy child?” murmured the Lady Paul- ine, in swift, excited tones. ‘‘Oh, would that you had not come hither to place yourself in his power! What will become of you ?—what will become of you 2” “Her fate depends upon her mother’s decision,” spoke | the prince, fiercely. “ Hard-hearted, obdurate woman, I did not think there would be a moment’s hesitation at this time. ‘Tell me the hiding-place of those papers, and cease to struggle against my will, and all will then be well for you both.” Lady Pauline turned slowly. All the scorn, and con- tempt, and loathing that such a vehement nature could contain was poured into her flaming glance. “Never! never! never!” repeated she. “I defy your power still.. Heaven has heard my cry before. It was almost a miracle that answered me then. Can I doubt it ‘will be heard again—the cry of the innocent in the hands of the thrice guilty and accursed? Who are these people about me?” And she turned from one blanching face to another and clasping her hands, cried, in piteous entreaty, “Oh! have you all hearts of stone? Hear him! You know by his own threats how wicked and barbarous has been his treatment. You know that I am innocent and helpless, defrauded of my rights, outraged in all my ten- derest hopes! Surely the king cannot be deaf to such monstrous sins. Go to him—show him what has been done—expose this vile, tyrannical, wicked man before he is seated on your country’s throne! Help me!” The prince’s laugh rang out loud, and high, and fierce. “You waste your eloquence. Not a soul here but 1s, like yourself, in my power, or bound to my interests by the closest ties. I tell you it is my hour of complete tri- umph. Yield toit, you stiff-necked, rebellious creature ! There is no power on earth able to help you. The king lies on his dying bed. See! even Valentin Baer cringes in silence, and Von Schubert does not lift a hand—there is none to help you on the wide earth,” Gomicbooks (Efe)