Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERY OF ST. MARK’'S ABBEY. 59 CHAPTER XV. ' “Fars way,’ cried a man who stood in the low gothic-arched door- way of the Grey Tower, when Angelina was brought into the court yard; “this way ;—what ho! Bridget, why de you toiter there behind ?”’ Bridget hastened forward, apparently afraid, and Angelina was hurried into the Tower; and as she passed the man whom she supposed to be the husband. of the former, and whose voice was familiar to her ear, the light from a lantern, carried by one of the ruffians, enabled her to have a full view of his features; and in them she recognised those of Rufus, She shuddered with horror when she saw him; and as she recalled to her memory the con- versation she bad heard between him and the baron ‘ir the vaults underneath the abbey, and which convinced her that be was a villain who would not hesi- tate to perpetrate any crime. for the sake of lucre. She fixed a look of suppli- cation upon him, bat he frowned, and motioned to the fellows who had the charge ef ber to hurry en. Finding, therefore, it was useless to appeal to men who were callous to all sense of pity, she resigned herself to her fate. She was taken threugh a hail, dark and dreary; and after ascendjng a Jong fiight of stairs, and traversing a gallery, they stepped ata heavy oaken door, strongly barred, and which had all the appearance of the entrance te a pri- son, Rafus unlocked it from a large bunch of keys which he had attached to his belt, and Angelina was ushered into a small, hut comfortable apart- ment, in which a Gre was blanzing. “This is the room allotted to. you, young woman,” said Rufus; “and I would advise you to make yourself contented; for obstiuacy and resigtance will not avail yqu anything. Bridget will bring you some refreshments pre- cently.” With these words the ruffian turned away, and frowning upon Bridget, who had been observing our heroine with a look of pity, after placing a lamp . aupon the table, left the room, beckoning his wife in a commanding manner to follow him. Angelina beard them lock and bolt the door after them. In a parexysm of despair and grief, the hapless maiden threw herself upon ber knees, and with clasped hands and upraised eyes, ejaculated :— ‘“‘ Father of Mercy, for what am I reserved? Why am I thus persecuted, and what will become of me ?—A prisoner, dragged from my home and friends, and in the power of wretches whose very looks smite my heart with terror, what cau I expect will be my fate ?—Perhaps their object is murder !—Oh, God !— But why should they seek my life? Me, a poor, humble girl, whose con- ‘science acquits me of having, even by word or decd, wilfully done injury to any one! Unfortunate Angeline, you will never behold your dear friends again—you are lost,—lost !” Sobs choked her further utterance ; and covering her face with her hands, she gave herself up to the most intense and indescribable agony, and for a few — minutes became unconscious of everything but her owa misery. At length the violence of her grief partly exhausted itself, and she uttered a fervent prayer to Heaven for its protection. She felt more composed; and arising from her knees, gazed around the apartment. It was very lofty, and the wainscot was covered with arras of a pale green culour, much faded by time. The furniture ee eet CORNICE DO© (SO)