The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 222: what you’re looking at

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

220 THE BRONZE STATUE. aversion. ‘Tell me, then, Sir Knight,| which dominated every other sgenti- tell me that Satanais has not suffered in your estimation on account of my crimes.’ ‘God forbid that I should prove so cruel and so unjust towards the memo- ry of your absent sister!’ exclaimed and as his eyes were De Colmar; -Yaisec at that instant towards the coun- tenance of Gloria as she stood before _ him, he was struck by the strange and and incomprehensible . mingled joy and triumph which swept over her features, and which she could hot prevent from thus flinging its light for a moment upon her face. ‘A thousand thanks for that assur- ance, Sir Knight,’ she exclaimed, per- ceiving that he had observed the senti- ment which from the depths of her soul had just been reflected in her counte- nance. ‘ Devoted as I am to my sister I would not that the effects of any mis- deeds or misfortunes on my part should redound upon her.’ ‘Nor shall such be the case—at least so far asl am concerned,’ observed De Colmar. ‘But the night is wearing on, nothing is decided, and the longer | contemplate the cruel embarrassments in which I am now placed, the more I am bewildered. ©, Gloria! by what terrible destiny are yoa ruled—by what appalling fate are you governed? ‘hough devoted by your deceased parents to the service of heaven, it would almost ap- pear as if Satan held dominion over you, as erst he did with regard to thy sister.’ ‘Oh! there are indeed terrible mys- teries But I dare not trust myself even for a moment with those thoughts!’ exclaimed Gloria, suddenly interrupting herself in the middle of her first sen- tence. ‘And now, with respect to the embarrassment wherein you are placed, leave it all to me—retire to your own expression of —- chamber—endeavor to snatch the re-'| ? pose which you require ‘Impossible !’ ejaculated De Colmar. .* You must judge me strangely, Gloria, if you imagine that [can take matters . thus calmly and indifferently. Here is .& murder to be accounted for, and I -neither wish to accuse you nor to draw down suspicion upon myself.’ ‘Heaven forbid that you should be suspected!’ exclaimed the Daughter of Glory with a fervor that touched the knight’s generous heart; for he per- ceived that this strange, romantic, and alas! guilty woman really loved him with a sincerity, a truth, and a devotion ment in her soul and was constantly paramount over all circumstances and events. ‘No, no,’ she cried, clasping her hands passionately, ‘even if you were in reality the assassin, I would proclaim myself the murderess in or- der to screen you!’ ‘My God! how has it happened that a soul fraught with such transcendant generosity can have been betrayed into error or hurried on into crime!’ ex- claimed De Colmar, his looks now as- suming an expression of boundless pity and commiseration as he fixed them upon the pale and agitated countenance of Gloria. ‘Oh! you entertain a sentiment of compassion for me!’ she cried, those woe-stricken features suddenly lighting up with joyousness; ‘then you do not altogether hate, loathe and abhor me? ‘ No, unfortunate lady, no,’ responded De Colmar; ‘Ido not entertain feelings of bitterness towards you; but I sin- cerely, deeply sympathise with you in the stern cruelty of that tremendous fate which thus renders you the agent of evil and the instrument of crime! And believe me that [am not insensible to all the generous consideration which you experience towards me, and which transpires from every feature of your conduct, every phase of your manner! But once more | must recall my own thoughts and likewise your attention to the dread topic which should alone oc- cupy them: for time is passing rapidly —and nothing is yet resolved upon.’ ‘Will you consent to be guided by me ?’ demanded the Daughter of Glory, speaking with arapidity and firmness suited to the dilemma of the position in which the Knight and herself were placed. ‘I cannot pledge myself to such a course,’ was hisresponse. ‘ For, taking it as granted that you are indeed the victim of irresistible circumstances and not a cold-blooded murderess—admit- ting, I say, that your exceptional desti- ny dooms you to a career as dreadful to yourself as it seems fatal to others—l cannot permit you to incur the danger and risk the penalties which would re- sult from an avowal of this deed. For the sake of John Zitzka, who is inter- ested in you—for the sake of your sis- ter, who loves you fondly and affection- ately—yes, and for your own sake also, Gloria,’ added the Knight, ‘I must not —dare not—will not abandon you to the consequences of your misfortune or comicbooks.com ie oe le