Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

152 _ ANGELINA 5 OR, | think Bpon. Were the spirits of the dead permitted to wander this earth, which she now firmly believed they were, since the awful adventure she had met with in the vaults of Saint Mark’s Abbey, what more fitting place could they have for their dreary wanderings than this subterraneous prison?—~How many wretched beings had, perhaps, there ended their days in confinement;—how many had there groaned beneath the cruelty of their oppressors, and had ultimately fallen by their hands? The dark deeds of ages seemed to arise to her imagination, and fancy clothed them in all the various garbs. ‘of horror, which a fevered brain could impart to them, and she almost feared to look up, lest she should behold those ghastly forma which only existed in her own imagi- ‘Ration. And now the light was but just faintly glimmering in the socket, ‘and in a: minute or two longer it must have expired, when, to her astonishment and fear, she: heard the key turning in the lock, after which the bolts were with- drawn, the door flew back on its hinges, and Ruthven stdod before her. | He carried a light in bis hand, which he held above his head when he entered the duugean, to accelerate his view, and after standing for’ a minute or two, aad ‘contemplating our heroine with a look of apparent satisfaction and éxul- tation, .he walked closer to her, and placed the lamp upon the table. ich - Wouad up to a pitch of the most overwhelming distraction, and imagiting that Ruthven had come to perpetrate the horrible crime for which purpose it appeared she had been brought there, Angelina started from the mattress, and throwing: herself at the villain’s feet, with clasped hands and supplicating looks, she implored his mercy. ‘s Why, what are you making all this fuss about 2?” demanded the man, in a cold and unfeeling tone ;—*‘ what have you got to be alarmed at ?—If the knife was at your throat you could not do more. You do not seem to fancy your new place of confinement, then ?”* - The violence of Angelina’s emotions prevented her from returning any answer to this brutal speech, and the ruffian continued ,— “There, there, no more of this squeamishness; I thought I could soon ‘find a way to cure you of your obstinacy ; get up and follow me.” ‘¢ Oh, whither would you take me?’ ejaculated our heroine, as a terrible presentiment crossed her mind, that he was about to commit the shocking deed, with the perpetration of which he had probably been entrusted ; * te}l me, I implore you; and, oh, take pity on my sufferings—take pity on one who never injured you or he by whom you are employed.” ‘sThere, I want no whining,” said Ruthven, pointing towards the door of the dungeon, ‘‘ obey me, or I must use force.” ‘But, surely, cruel as you are, you will not leave the unfortunate woman in the next dungeon to die, if she is not dead already?’ ejaculated Angelina, with increased vehemence, and, at the same time, thiaking by that means to be able to elicit who the prisoner was, and for what purpose she was confined. ‘Ah!’ cried Ruthven, as a strange and indescribable expression passed over his savage featares, ‘‘ you have heard her then ?—'Tis well,—you shall also have the pleasure of beholding her, and you will then see what those may expect who accede not to the wishes, or eppose the will of the Baron de Morton or his confidant. This way, girl!” _. V°ndering how all this would terminate, trembling with apprehension, and COL @ NOOKS ACO