Beautiful Rienzi; or, The Secret Vendetta — page 194: what you’re looking at

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

BEAUTIFUL RIENZL 187 a friend; tell me what calamity has befallen you; tell me in a word,” } A thrill of hope ran through my chilled heart; conyul- sively I pressed my lips to the hand which held mine in such kindly keeping; my woeful eyes gathered comfort in his face. ‘“Oh, will you indeed, befriend us?” I cried. “* Prove me, little girl; only prove me.” ‘* We have an enemy,” I breathed, with abated breath, <a woman who has brought us nothing but ruin. She came here to-day under a false name, and poisoned my mother and my sister. I alone escaped.” _“Isolina?” The stranger’s eyes darkened with apprehen- sion. ‘“* Yes, Isolina. They were both insensible when I left the house.” | «This woman’s name?” ‘Mrs. Ringwood.” ‘Hah! I thought so! Viper!” His face was hard and bitter; he clenched his hand ag often as I had done, when this viper’s sting was sharpened. ‘‘ What were you doing down in the village bare-headed ?” he demanded, leading his horse up the lane. ‘‘T hoped at first to arrest her before she should leave the village, but she had escaped. I sent a telegram to my father, that she might be intercepted at the New York station.” “Right! you have your father’s spirit, girl.” He stopped at the door; Sophie rushed out, her eyes swol- len with weeping, and flung her arms about me. - “Oh, Miss Iva, darling, where have you been?” she cried; “T thought you had run and drowned yourself!” ‘* How are they, Sophie?” ‘* Misses is sleeping so heavily! and Mrs, Haller says it’s no use——” | ‘© And my sister?” . “©Oh, Miss Iva, don’t ask! I believe she’s dead!” ‘«That’s enough of news,” interrupted the stranger’s de- Cisive voice; ‘‘run, now, girl, and carry in the medicine- chest which you will find under the seat. Young lady, show me in.” | He almost dragged me into the hall, flung his hat and Gomichoo KS (<(0)