The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 139 which were so deeply impressed upon rescued me from the tremendous thral- his heart; the raven hair hung all dis- | dom that made me the Daughter of Sa- hevelled, in heavy tresses, over her shoulders, anda simple role of sable dye and plain material loosely clothed | her form. Upon her brow no diamonds shone—upon her seen; like a lovely penitent was she— and yet as crandly beautiful as when ar- ray ed in velvet, and with the gems glis- tening star-like amidst her hair, and the pearls tracing the rich outlines of her slowing form. Though dark her complexion, yet was it bright with that transparent polish which bronzed, as it were, the pure olive of her skin: so that her high and noble forehead shone as if with sublim- est thoughts; and her superdD bosom rose in dazzling contrast with the sable drapery that only half concealed it. Through the liquid jet of her magni- ficent eyes flashed a look of mingled joy and gratitude, as she met the glance of the awakening knight; and Love—th» pose-winged deity—shed a livelier car nation on her cheeks of velvet smooth- mess, and agitated with a deeper emo- tion the bosom of sculptural richness. ‘Satanais, is it indeed thou?’ mur- mured De Colmar in a low tone; for there was something awe-inspiring and solemnly mysterious in the presence of the dark hoeuri at that still hour, when the world slept, and night’s sable cur- tains were drawn over the earth. ‘’?Tis I, so lately called the Daughter of Satan, but now Satan’s Own no lon- | ger,’ she responded, with a deep pathos in the golden tones, which flowed in guch rich harmony upon the warrior delighted ears. ‘‘Ihanks to thee, my generous-hearted benefactor, 1 am re- deemed from the appalling influence which surrounded me like a plague- mist. Inthis homely garb of penitence, upon my knees at the foot of the altar in the palace-chapel. did I pour forth | my soul in prayer for thee! And when | a secret inspiration told me that thou wast worsted in the awful conflict, my brain burned with the maddening heat of the volcano, and my soulewas -reut with the anguish of a thousand martyr- doms. ‘But in a few minutes a blessed change came over me; gleams of ec- | static feeling penetrated into. my heart like the glimmering of dawn upon night's tempest- GR d ocean; anda secret voice hymned the poean of salva- tion in my soul! Yes, 1 am saved—lI | am redeemed; and ’tis thou who hast | | pour forth into. thine dress no pearls were | i tan. Ihave sought thee, therefore, to ears the gratitude of my fervent heart, and bless thee for this great good which thou hast done! Ere the first beams of morning tinge with their roseate hue the eastern sky, l shall be on my way tothe far-off c lime of my birth. hither dees my destiny impel me—heaven alone can tell tor what purpose, or to accomplish what aim! Certain and sure, however, it is that on earth we shall meet no more; for that superhuman guidance which hath permitted me to visit thee now for a few minutes, decrees likewise that if is for the last time !’ Her voice became low and tremulous as she uttered these words,—words which were wafted by the fragrant breath from between the moist. red lips, like the soft tones of an Atolian harp oscillating on the balmy zephyr _ that plays amongst roses. ‘For the last time !’ said De Colmar, repeating the concluding phrase of her sentence, his voice catching the infec- | tion ot the plaintive tenderness. which animated her own. ‘time, and never, never shall we meet |again in this life! ‘Yes, for the last jut even now, be- loved Jady ; for, my God! you are be- loved, is it not in violation of my com- pact with Satan that I am_ blessed with thy presence? did he not enjoin me to ‘behold thee no more ?’ ‘Kear nothing on that head, Ernest, dear Ernest,’ replied Satanais, her lus- 'trous looks remaining rivetted upon his countenance in one long burning gaze of fondness, ‘ this Jast visit is permit- ‘ted by a power superior to that which in all other respects became the arbiter ‘of the conditions binding you with so- ‘lemn compact. "Tis not you who vio- late that compact now; for you. have ‘sought me not; ’tis | ae have sought you in a spirit of gratitude, and friend- ship, and devotion, and love!’ ‘Oh! talk not to me of love, Sata- nais.’ exclaimed De Colmar, with bit- ‘terness in his tone, ‘ for scarcely have I felt its delicious influence, when. it ‘turns into disappointment! It seemed ‘to me alittle while ago, until the com- bat of this fatal night, that some un- known barp was making soft music in /my soul: but now the silver chord has ‘been rudely snapped, and that entrane- ‘ing me slody is hushed for ever! Yes, id have loved thee, Satanais—still love thee,’ continued the knight, in a Jow comicbooks.com