The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 217: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 7 ‘ And that secret ?’ cried Angela, ago- nisingly impatient. ¢ You know Angela Wildon,’ exclaim- ed Sir Ernest; ‘and you love her’ ‘Yes, as my own life,’ responded the forest-maiden, suddenly experiencing all the elasticity alike of mind and body arising from this immense relief. ‘Then may you be happy with her, my dear friend,’ rejoined Sir Ernest de Colmar: for I feel convinced she is a prize that a sovereign prince might be roud to win!’ ‘Thanks, ten thousand thanks for your generous wishes, and for your kind sentiment,’ murmured Angela. At this moment the domestics of the ¢nn made their appearance to lay the table for supper; and Angela, drawing De Colmar aside, said to him in a low and hurried tone, for the rudeness of which [ am about to be guilty—that of retiring to my own chamber—-inasmuch as to preserve my incognito, 1 must take my repast alone ‘No apology is needed, my gallant friend,’ interrupted De Colmar; ‘nor should you labor under any embarrass- ment on that account. Good night to thee, brave youth.’ ‘Good night, my generous friend,’ returned Angela; and she hastened away to the chamber which had been prepared for her reception. In the meantime the Daughter of Glory had arranged her toilette which the day’s travelling had somewhat dis- turbed; and she was about to retrace her way to the apartment where she had left De Colmarand Angela together, when in the long, dark passage of the old inn she encountered the young page Ermach. Ah! this is most opportune,’ she ex- claimed, but in a whispering tone. ‘1 wished to speak to thee, boy But follow me to my chamber, where we can converse a moment without fear of being interrupted or observed.’ ‘Lead on, Marietta,’ said the youth, in a cold tone. ‘Flush! not by that name am I now known,’ returned Gloria, with mingled anger and entreaty ; then, turning has- taly round, she led the way to her own apartment. ‘What would you with me?’ demand- ed the page, evidently laboring to con- ceal some powertul emotion beneath an assumption of coldness and reserve. ‘Let us understand each other, Er- ——— TT | | | | ‘ You will excuse me | rup! ‘asked Ermach, the studied iciness of his 215 mach,’ said the Daughter of Glony. ‘ We will be friends, shall we not?’ ‘Of what value can my friendship be to you, Marietta ?? demanded the boy, his lip quivering, and his eyes sweeping their fervid, devouring looks over the feacures and the form of the resplen- dent beauty. , ‘Call mé not by that name, which | loathe and hate,’ she said, in a tone of half command and half entreaty. ‘ But again do I ask whether we are to be friends, or foes?’ ‘ Wherefore should I manifest. for- bearance or friendship towards you ? manner thawing not beneath the sunny looks of the lady. ‘It 1s true that when you were an inmate ‘Yes—yes, I comprehend!’ inter- ed Gloria, impatiently. ‘ Mention the place, the walls have ears.’ not ‘Well, it is needless to name tho place, then,’ resumed Ermach ; ‘ suffice it to say that when we were dwelling beneath the same roof, J as a humble dependant, and you as one of the bright stars of that terrestrial galaxy of beauty, I loved you—yes, I was bold enough to love you no, not to love only, but to adore, to worship you ‘Ah! that unhappy love of thine.’ exclaimed Gloria. * But thou hast for- gotten it.’ == . .- “ * a wit S x i Sn « = “es &, A — *- bone” -—- ; ? c ¥ an a a ae ee a - i - he 5 - ww sa. yy” -— .* ‘No, I have not forgotten it, nor shall I ever!’ responded Ermach, in a deep tone, which sounded strangely and even ominously when coming from ‘the lips of one so young. ‘But if [ remember it now, if I have remembered it ever siace, and if I shall continue to remem- Se ee mira ber it, proud lady,’ he continued, witha fy more severe accentuation, ‘it is only - hecause I have associated another sen- y timent with that passion a ‘And this new sentiment ?’ said Glo- a ria, interrogatively. ie ‘Vengeance !’ replied Ermach, bit- a terly. g ‘Oh! but this is cruel—cowardly— | unmanly !’ exclaimed Gloria, scarcely able to conceal the trepidation which was gaining upon her. ‘T care not how severe may be the epithets which you ascribe to my con- duct,’ said Ermach; ‘they will not be more severe than was your behaviour towards me when I threw myself at your feet, and avowed the love that was maddening me! Oh! never, never shall I forget that moment; and never, never can | sufficiently avenge it! You comicbooks.com