Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

130 ANGELINA 3 OR, ‘* And must we never meet again?’ she sighed— ‘6 must I no more listen to the honied accents that fell from his lips? Alas! no; it is forbidden, unless we can meet only as friends ;—friends—bow cold the word, how inadequate to express the intensity of a passion, which, in spite of all my endeavours, I feel must continue to held possession of my heart, until death shall release me from my misery. ‘‘ Angelina,” at that moment exclaimed a well-known voice, immediately behind her, and looking rourd, to her confusion, she beheld standing at her elbow, and with her eyes fixed scriously upon ber, Kate of the Rains. *“‘ Angelina,” repeated Kate, in a yet more solemn tone, and pointing sig- nificantly towards the old abbey porch, ‘ follow me!”’ — Angelina trembled, and shrunk beneath the sternness of her glance. ** What wauld you do with me, Kate ?’’ she demanded, in a faint voijce ¢ accident, and not design, brought me hither, and——”’ ‘* Follow me, girl, I say,” interrupted Kate, in still more peremptory tones, as she advanced towards the abbey, to which she pointed the wand that she always carried with her. Our heroine obeyed, and her mysteriaus conductor having enlered the ruins, proceeded until she came ta the old aisle, and passed on to the altar at the extremity. Here she paused, and appeared to be feeling for something at jhe side. Presently, to the infinite astonishment of Angelina, a secret door flew open, and discavered a flight of steps hencath the allar, which Kate instantly began to descend, having taken a lamp ia her hand, which had been standing lighted on the altar. ‘“¢ This way, Angelina,’’ she said, heckoning impatiently ¢ to our heroine 5 come,—quick, quick.” ‘¢ Why is all this mjstery, and for what purpose do you want me ?” once more asked Angelina, with considerable doubt and alarm depicted in her coan- tenance, Kate frowned. **No matter, girl,” she replied, “no harm is intended thee; do as I com- mand thee.” Angelina always felt that unaccountable awe in the presence of Kate, that she feared to disobey her, and mentally praying for the protection of Heaven, she followed as the latter desired. Kate continued to descend, followed by our heroine, for some time, and at Jength alighted in a square stone chamber, upon which opened different ranges of vaults, and cemeteries, in which were deposited the remains of the monks, who many ages before had inhabited the abbey. A sickly vapour encircled the lamp which Kate carried, on their entrance, and almost extinguished the light; the walls were streaming with water, and as Angelina cast her eyes for- ward, she beheld the different piles of stone coffins in which were deposited the ashes of the dead. She shuddered with a feeling of irresistible horror, and turned to Kate for an explanation. The latter, however, received her inquiring glances with a look of total indifference, and without saying a word, advanced towards a low archway, and beckoned Angelina to follew. ‘* What strange and awful place have you Jed me to,” said Angelina, shr ink ing back, “* and what is your purpose with me? I will not follow you farther ~ without you explain yourself to me,” ~*~ COL @ NOOKS ACO