Beautiful Rienzi; or, The Secret Vendetta — page 233: what you’re looking at

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

226 BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. the steamer which brought me to Boston, I was like a rest- less spirit unshriven. When Ireached New York | found a latter at the post-office from my friend, telling me to come to a place called Ranelagh and inquire for the family of my wife. I am to stay at Ranelagh until Doctor Pemberton can join me, and tell methe secret conspiracy that has been made against my happiness. «©T asked at the village for the family of Rienzi, and was directed to Silverlea. “‘T am here, blindly obeying the directions of my mentor; he has brought me from the ends of the earth; from forget- fulness and resignation under my lonely lot, to Silverlea. What is to be the result?” CHAPTER XXX. A SHADOW UNDER MY STAR. - “You ask what is to be the result,” I said, speaking for the first time since my friend began his story; ‘‘and it is a greatriddle to me. Your history has filled me with astonish- ment. God seems to have brought us very near together, under one trial. Iam bewildered. Can it be possible that the woman who has attempted our ruin so persistently is also the curse of the House of Joselyn? Let me ask youone question, Victor. What was ‘ Stella’s’ maiden name?” ‘‘Gemma Lancinetto, of the House of Lancinetto, in Florence; a haughty family, indeed.” I clasped my hands in superstitious awe. “‘She it is who has twice attempted my life, once at- tempted the life of my mother, by a poisoned ring, and cast her mysterious coils so thickly round our hapless Isolina that she has fled from our arms and gone, no one knows whither.” ‘“You amaze me, Ivanilla! Can this be what Doctor Pemberton means? Can my wretched mother be the cause of the separation of my wife from me? But alas! I can never forget that Cecil Beaumont supplanted me.” ‘‘Isolina has not been false,” I replied, in a trembling voice; ‘‘ whatever cause has led her to act so, I believe she loves you still. Oh, Victor! when you hear the trne story of poor Cecil Beaumont you will not deem my sister in- comicbooks: com