Beautiful Rienzi; or, The Secret Vendetta — page 213: what you’re looking at

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

206 BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. sister’s heart; he was hers;-I loved her so deeply that I fell at once into my place, as the sister of her he loved, and my affection swept into this channel, and ever afterward re- mained there. So much for the man who stood by the chiming sea, hold- ing me clasped to his breast. «“ Now,” I murmured; ‘‘come home to Silverlea.” “Not yet,” said the stranger, tenderly; ‘‘we must understand each other first; will you confer with me a while?” ‘‘ Ves,” I answered, with a serene smile; ‘I know so little of Victor Joselyn that it is meet that he should explain him- self a little, after so extraordinary.a greeting,” and I looked with fond and glistening eyes into his face, We slowly paced over the rippled sand, and with one ac- cord turned aside to a quiet nook, where some quartz rocks were strewn upon a flat sea rock, © Here he flung his ample cloak, and spread «it daintily for a carpet, upon which he seated me; then he flung himself down beside, and raised to me a face whereon was depicted every noble though chastened attribute of beauty. «Who shall begin?” I asked, with playful fondness; “‘we are two strangers who know one mutual friend—shall we talk of that friend? No!” I added, with a sudden sigh; ‘not yet, the subject is a sad one.” ‘Not yet,” echoed Victor Joselyn, mournfully; ‘‘let us make each other’s acquaintance first.” May I ask you a few questions then? I know so ittle ¢ = ‘Ask me anything, dear child, as if you were my sister.” ‘¢ And you will not deem me impertinent? I shall be very personal I fear, but I know so little. Ah, well. Iam not afraid of being misunderstood by you, Victor Joselyn. In the first place, then, I wish to understand the precise friend- ship which has existed between my sister and you? You have been married, signor? Pardon me.” ‘* Yes,” said the stranger, with a face of doubt and pain; “but I thought no one knew it. Did she tell you?” “She told me—once,” said I, rather puzzled, ‘‘and I think others knew it well. Now, will you pardon me for what comes next? Your wife died?” There was a slight silence; my companion looked at me comicbooks:co