The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

“oe ad — Fs —* . . 4 t A aw. oe oe - Oe aan aS ae = - — : = - - 2 = — 116 like each other. the same darkness; but our parents ol- ten whispered together that the light of heaven shone in those of my sister, whereas a sinister and ominous lustre gleamed in mine. The hair of Gloria was perfectly radiant, golden, without being yellow—auburn, without the slightest tint of red; it seemed like a mass of sunbeams, and illuminated her coentenance as if she were indeed an angel. ‘The sea-shell pink and the fair- ness of the lily blended upon her cheeks; and well did she become the name that had been bestowed upon her! As for myself, the dark olive complexion, the hair black as night, and that strange un- natura] Justre shining in the eyes, were regarded by my parents as the sure in- dications that Satan indeed exercised an influence over me. ‘Three years, I have already observ- ed, had passed away from the moment of the birth of Gloria and myself; and during this interval Kara Ali had held the office of prime minister. ‘The po- pular discontent which marked his res- toration to power, accompanied his ca- reer, increasing daily, and being pre- vented from exploding only by the me- nacing attitude of the troops. The rapacity, oppression, and injustice which characterised Kara Ali's administration were extreme; and the kingdom was rapidly falling from a condition of the highest prosperity into a state of anar- chy and confusion. Meantime Ildirim troubled himself but little respecting the affairs of the nation; dispirited and al- most heart-broken by the one grand mis- fortune of his life, that calamity which had led to so many others, he shut him- self up in his palace, leaving his people entirely at the mercy of the ministers, and seeking solace only in the company of his wife and children. For to them was he devotedly attached; and, al- though deserving the denomination of a bad king, he was beyond all question a kind husband and affectionate father. The people at length became louder in their murmurs and more menacing in their attitude. They said, ‘a*spell has again fallen upon ourking. During the first two years of his reign he resigned himself to dissipation. The presence of invaders alone awoke him from his luxury ; and then fora season he proved himself a goed, wise, and just prince. But he has once more deserted the cause of his people; and, although he | has not relapsed into a life of luxurious- ness, yet his affections are alienated For our eyes were ot THE BRONZE STATUE. from us. Moreover, one of his children is dedicated to the service of the Chris- tian’s God ;” for this circumstance re- specting Gloria was now generally known throughout the country. ‘And with regard to the other child,” con- tinued the people in their murmurings, ‘‘she bears a terrible name, and her eyes, which fascinate like those of the serpent, and vibrate like a star, préve that she is indeed the daughter of Sa- tan.” Such were the _ observations which grew daily more and more fre- quent in the city ; and the popular dis- content was gathering with the threat- ening concentration of a volcano, when a circumstance occurred which all on a sudden produced a terrific explosion. ‘It appears that some fishermen were one day pursuing their avocation on the bank of the river passing near the capi- tal city, when one of them drew upa heavy object in his net. It proved tobe a sack tied at the mouth; and, on open- ing it, the remains of a dismembered corpse were discovered. Although three years and upwards had elapsed since the corpse had been consigned to the depths of the river, the water had to some extent retarded the progress of decomposition; and the mangled re- mains were borne into the city. Im- mense crowds collected, and a terrible indignation was manifested by the po- pulace. For inasmuch as_ prosperity and plenty had until latterly rendered enormous crimes very scarce, the ge- neral horror was proportionately in- creased by the discovery of these proofs that some appalling tragedy had been consummated. ‘lhe blame was imme- diately thrown upon the detested mini- sters ; and the cry of * To the palace !” being raised, thousands and thousands flocked thither, the corpse being borne in the midst of the angry multitude. ‘Ildirim the king was walking with Almeria in the royal gardens, watching Gloria and myself, who were disporting in infantine glee amidst the parterres of flowers. Suddenly the sounds of my- riads of voices came rolling upon pur ears like distunt thunder; and the de- pendants rushed with affrighted counte- nances to warn the king that the citi- zens had risen in open rebellion and were surrounding the palace. Scarcely Was the astounding intelligence commu- hicated, when other messengers arrived with the still more alarming news that the guards had refused to obey their of- ‘ficers and had joined the people. A gleam of courage returned to the soul comicbooks.com