Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

4 ANGELINA; OR, envelope the lower part of her form, and a brilliant star blazed on her forehead. There was something so supernaturally awful in the appearance of the myste- rious figure, that the two beauteous cousins were transfixed to the spot without the power to move a step,or to utter a single cry; while the strange being remained in the same attitude, and her piercing eyes were never for a moment removed from their countenances. Unable to endure the deep feelings of horror that crowded upon her mind, Laura sunk senseless to the earth, and Angelina was thus left to combat with her own terrors, and to unravel the awful mystery which attended the ap- parently eupernatural being. Angelina was not one of those weak and affected beings who pretend to faint at the sight of their own shadow ; but her situation had now become insupport- ably alarming, and ber whole frame trembled with surprise and apprehension. But the ghastly form moved not, and as the blue lightoing’s flash ever and anon made it more distinct, a smile seemed to overspread its unearthly features, as though it was exulting in the fears it created. By degrees, we hover ,Angelina regained her presence of mind, and fancyi that she might have been deceived, ventured to advance towards the strange and unearthly-looking object, in order that she might scrutinize it more nar- rowly, and finding that it did not then offer to move, or to change its position in the slightest degree, she became convinced that her eyes had not deceived her, and with a firm determination to fathom at once the mystery, she ex- claimed in a voice of courage : “In the name of Heavea, who are you, and what seek you with me ?” ‘* Approach me, girl,” exclaimed the woman, in a voice of sweetness, iy A command, that ill accorded with her appearance, ‘“‘ approach me, | say, I must speak with you. Nay, do not fear me; I will not do thee harm, virtue and innocence need not dread me :—come hither, maiden.” Eacouraged by the woman’s words, and the tone of her voice, Angelina be- came more assured, and did as the strange-looking being had desired her, who, grasping her by the arm with gentle violence, drew her closer to ber. In the meantime, Laura had recovered, and unable longer to endure the terrors of the place, called upon the name of her cousin, entreating her to follow, and hastily fled from the ruins. ‘© Maiden,”’ said the mysterious woman, ‘‘ thy visits to these lonely ruins are pot unknown. I have secretly watched thee, and I now hasten to warn thee that they must not be repeated. Beware, beware, thou knowest not the danger thou runnest into to gratify thy curiosity.’ ‘‘What mean you, my good woman ?”’ inquired Angelina, shrinking beneath the intensity of her gaze, “ Whom should I fear ?” ‘© | may not tell thee, maiden,’ replied the woman, ‘‘ but rest assured that what J speak is truth, Angelina, thou art not what thou seemest.” “ Good God !’” ejaculated the astonished girl, “ what strange ambiguity is there in your words; tell me, who are you, aod why are you interested in my welfare 2?” ‘© Seek to know no more at present,” said the woman, “ and above all, as you would savo yourself from future misery, mention not a sentence to any one that you have heard from me! Your own life, and the lives of others depen COMmicoOokKSs.Cor