Beautiful Rienzi; or, The Secret Vendetta — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

FF et OP OF KS & » ; ey * f.t2% “J 7 . * ve one rm My BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. 93 He drew me close and groaned on my shoulder. He saw at last that icy wall which had risen up and shut him out; nothing but his blind unsuspicion could have made him blindso long. Grieving mutely for him, with noth- ing but silence for comfort, I softly kissed his brow. ‘*T will tell you the substance of our interview,” he said, mastering his emotion after a time. ‘‘ As you may suppose, it was a long time before I saw my way clear to come to the point. At last, when she appeared to be quite calm and reasonable, I asked her if she would answer a few questions which it was necessary for me to ask her, She instantly got up with much alarm in her manner, and cried that she would answer nothing. I tenderly asked her the reason, and got no answer. but dearest, I said, it is ab- solutely necessary that you explain what led to young Beau- mont’s death. Your life isin danger, unless you confide to some one the circumstances, so that they may be used for your benefit.” ‘¢*T cannot tell you anything,’ shesaid, huskily. «You must,’ I repeated, with firmness, ‘I cannot leave this room until I understand your position.’ «¢ She turned as paletas death, and eyed me strangely. ‘© ‘Who killed Cecil Beaumont?’ I proceeded. «© «No one,’ was the answer. «© ‘What?—was it an accident?’ I cried, ‘were you with him, and was it an accident?’ «‘ She began to weep and moan, ‘ poor Cecil! poor Cecil?’ «But answer me,’ I urged. ‘*< What?—you demand an explanation?’ she exclaimed, turning with sudden excitement on me. «<*T wished to know for your own sake, my child,’ I an- swered, soothingly. | ‘‘This colloquy lasted for some time, but in spite of her feebleness, her excitement, and her weakness, | gained nothing from her. At last I relinquished that question, and took up another. «¢<Tell me what secret you have, which you hide from me, and receive my counsel.’ ! ‘A strange, bitter smile crossed her lips, but she was speechless. I attempted to draw her to my arms, in order to win, by love and pity, her confessions, but she recoiled from me with a shriek. , *¢* Go away!’ she cried, ‘don’t touch mel’ comichbooks