The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. mine that portion of the garden which immediately joined the window; and on the soil he discovered the slight im- rints of the long narrow feet of a fe- male. Then he knew that the incident which was uppermost in his mind was not a dream ; for he remembered it was in the direction of this open casement that Satanais had disappeared from his view at the instant the lamp went out. Proceeding tothe chamber belonging to his two pages, he found that it was empty and that neither couch thereia had been disturbed during the night.— The prolonged absence of the youths alarmed him, still he cherished the hope that no danger had befallen them, but that they were merely engaged in following up some trace which they had probably discovered in respect to the abode of the Princess Elizabetha. He was, however, anxious for their re- turn, not only to obtain the assurance that they were involved in no peril, but likewise that he might command them to desist from any farther research re- lative to the princess, one of the condi- tions dictated by his sable conqueror being a cessation on his part of all in- terference in the affairs of Bohemia. Having performed his toilet and par- taken of some refreshment. Sir Ernest de Colmar sent for the landlady of the Golden Falcon to inquire through her whether Angela required his services in any way, or wished to consult him upon any subject. but to his surprise he learnt that the maiden had risen at an early hour and had gone forth into the city, without even intimating when it was probable she should return. Sir Ernest de Colmar was sorely de- pressed in spirits; never in his life had his manly soul been so completely weighed down by the leaden load of de- spondency. Vanquished by his terrible enemy on the preceding night, subject- ed to conditions which were even more than humiliating in many respects, compelled to abandon all idea of ever beholding Satanais again, and full of ap prebensions on account of his two faith ful pages, he felt as if misfortunes were suddenly crowding in around him. It was, therefore, with a heavy heart that he slowly traversed the city and bent his steps, in pursuance of the last wish expressed by Satanais, towards the grove in whose shade he had met Gloria on the occasion when she de- clared her love. That verdant spot,—so rich in its emerald green and so variegatcd with 14] floral loveliness,—stood upon the bank of the river Moldau; and the knight was proceeding along the margin of the transparent stream in the direction of ‘the grove, when he was suddenly start- led and shocked by beholding a female form floating down with the rapid cur- | rent. | At the same instant he recognized ‘the countenance, the beauteous coun- tenance, of Angela; and, obedient to the only impulse which his generous /nature under such circumstances could ‘feel, he plunged into the river to her rescue. ree Ce rs 1s. a wy a es , ~ ~*~ lt _— 3. ata ~. oe - = , ayes As ae ot —_ .., — a Biaa ly —_ a ae CHAPTER XXXVII. —— GLORIA’S POINARD. Tue maiden had seen him—had re- 'cognised him—and had even stretched | out her arms towards him, as the tide | swept her past the spot whence he in- stantaneously sprang to her succour ; while a scream burst from her lips—a scream which in its thrilling tones de- noted how suddenly a ray of hope had ‘flashed athwart the black cloud of de- | spair that enveloped her soul. | Though fleet and fast glided the cur- ‘rent of the Moidau, Sir Ernest clave the /'mass of water with so strong an arm ‘that his form’ went dashing through it ‘like a sharp-prowed vessel impelled by vigorous rowers; but just at the mo- /ment that his hand was about to grasp the vesture of the garment of the maid- en, she sank with an-abruptness as if ‘her aerial shape had suddenly been transformed into a lump of lead. The | warrior dived after her ; vain was the ‘attempt, she rose at a distance lower ‘down the stream, and the rending voice ‘of her anguish once more pierced the warm, balmy, aud sun-lit air. With almost superhuman efforts did ‘Sir Ernest de Colmar make his way ‘through the gurgling water, his eyes fixed upon the lovely Angela’s form as ‘it was hurried along ; but all in a mo- ment she disappeared again, and the horrible thought struck to the knight’s ‘soul that she had sunk to rise no more. But, O joy! his hand clutched her garments as he dived to her rescue ; he retained his hold upon her—he raised her to the surface—he sustained her | there, all senseless as she was—and in a few moments he placed her in safety upon the flower-gemmed bank. ~ pe . . ” x « - om’ ear Shh ee et cere be " ao, Pite.< Retyi s = - oi mn, op a elon i. * ¥ ——— — 4 comicbooks.com