The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

from entertaining any apprehension of insult or harm at his hands. ‘Pardon me, fair maiden,’ he said, ‘for not immediately explaining the cause of the sudden astonishment which seized upon me, when the moonbeams favored me with a more perfect view of | your countenance. But this is indeed a singular encounter; and in succoring me upon a lonely he ath, you have am- ply requited a service which a few THE BRONZE STATUE. 135 herself when on the point of entering into some explanation, ‘I seek not to pry into your affairs; I scorn the idea of entertaining a vulgar and imperti- nent curiosity. You act wisely in ob- serving caution towards strangers; and in yon city whither you are bound, you will have néed of all your sel{-posses- sion, forethought, and prudence ; for in Prague at this moment there are many jarring interests, perhaps many covert weeks ago I was fortunate enough to render you in a dark forest.’ ‘Oh! I comprehend you now, Sir Knight,’ exclaimed the young female, partaking of the surprise from which he himself had scarcely recovered. are the generous warrior who rescued me from the power ot Lord Rodolph.’ intrigues; and at all events that secret ferment which is produced by a crushed aristocracy endeavoring in its despera- tion to regain power and influence from” ‘a dominant democrucy. ‘Vou! '—seek neither ‘Lord Rodolph! ejaculated De Col- | mar. ‘*‘ What! was he the ruffan who carried you off that night, whom [| measured swords in the forest! Ah! that accounts for his inhospitable treatment of me afterwards, while I so- journed afew hours at Altendorf Castle. He recognised me again, and to vent his cowardly spite upon me, he appropriat- | ed as my lodging those long disused rooms Ernest, suddenly interrupting himself in the midst of his audible musings.— ‘Tell me, charming Angela—for 1 have not forgotten the name by which the worthy forest-keeper and his wife spoke of thee as their much-loved adopted daughter—-tell me, I say, wherefore art thou travelling thus far away from thy rural home, friendless ! and with | dations; for scarcely ————See Keep, there- fore, your own counsel, maiden; un- bosom not a single sécret unnecessarily assistance nor advice of strangers; and, by thus acting, you will avoid muny dangers.’ ‘ Angeld had not time to express her oratitude for these excellent recommen- had the conclud- ing words fallen from De Colmar’s lips, when the sounds of a prancing steed came over the heath, nearer and nearer with great rapidity ; and, in a few mo- ments, the knight’s runaway horse can- But no matter now!’ cried Sir | tered up to the spot. ‘It is mine” exclaimed Sir Ernest ‘the instant that the animal emerged from the surrounding obscurity ; and as he caressed the charger with his gauntletted hand, he said, * Now we may as well proceed in the direction of Prague; that is, fair Angela, if you will and all unprotected and) Has misfortune overtaken | the good Wildon? has death deprived you of those who cherished you so fondly ?’ ‘No, Sir Knight,’ answered Angela, | in a tone which was tremulous with emotion ; ‘ my adopted parents are alive, | thank heaven! and in the same circum- | stances as when yousawthem. ‘T'o ac-| complish an object of high importance am I journeying to Prague ; and Sut the maiden stopped suddenly -_- —_ short, for she recollected that the posi- | tion of the knight was perfectly un-| known to her; he might be a friend of the ‘l'aborites, and consequently an ene- my of the three nobles whom Aitzka had incarcerated ; and therefore she in- stantly perceived how imprudent it would be to drop even the remotest hint ees of my escort.’ ‘ Cheerfully and thankfully,’ respond- ed the maiden, in her characteristic tone of hearty frankness ; and, as she thus spoke, she mounted her own steed with remarkable agility, just as the knight was about to offer his assistance. ‘You are no indifferent equestrian, | Angela,’ he observed, as he slowly as- sende dto his saddle; for he was suf- ‘fering with the pain of the severe con- tusions experienced by his fall in the combat, as well as from the exhausting affects of the two occasions on which he had suffered a total privation of con- sciousness. ‘Ten days have elapsed since I left ‘my forest home,’ said the maiden, with ‘that four ‘and | am well aware should have But I have an audible sigh ; at the outside bronght me to Prague. been fearful to journey after dusk of an of the object of her mission to the Bo-| hemian capital. evening; and moreover, not a day has 'passed without see ing me wander out | ‘Fair Angela,’ said De Colmar, per-| | of the direct road, alike through inex- ~ ceiving that she had suddenly checked | perience in travel and from the inac- comicbooks.com