The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 228: what you’re looking at

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

226 THE BRONZE STATUE. i | . . . be re eer | maidens standing near and contemplat-| ‘ Young maiden, your attachment to ‘ti op | ing her with the most melancholy inter-; your mistress does you honor, and Pela el est. She was clad in a negligent un- | speaks much in her favor,’ observed the EY dress; and her long, luxuriant, shining | magistrate. ‘ But it is not for me to hair rolled in unconfined masses over her | spare nor yet to harm; a higher autho- naked shoulders of dazzling whiteness | rity will patiently, laboriously, and im- and floated down her back far below the | partially investigate the ease and deal waist. <A strange light shone in her | withit accordingly. In the meantime, eyes—a light more iutense, more sinis lady,’ he added, turning his eyes upon ter, and more penetrasng, than ever Gloria, ‘ you must prepare to accompany ~~ = —_ ~ P sl nee — 7 ‘* > iy - 7 279 . —s - o - ——- * ~~ = = ——_— = <a - ¢ : e s k < : : - - _ . e , *, “ ee - + . ad 7 - ~ . ~< « in = a oly ee Se ees go, a ee eee ee. O 2 eet a ~ 4 +. . ond ia " 5 - “s — rg, « y . Jee * r’ ~~ « o> a! al - a . = = ous . ——_ 7 ra her dependents had observed before ;| me.’ iv and the supernal brilliancy of which ‘So soon?’ she exclaimed. ‘ Ah! a i shone all the more ominously on account| most worshipful sir, remove me not 4) of the extreme pallor of her counte-}| hence for a few hours.’ | nance. It wasevident that some scheme | ‘But upon what ground do you de- of vital import occupied ber mind, and | mand this delay ?’ inquired the magis- that she was not only balancing all the jtrate. § Give me some good reason, and immediate chances of failure or success, | I shall not harshly refuse the favor but likewise plunging her mental looks; which you seem to require at my hands,’ with eager intentness into the future,| ‘Oh! what can be a better reason in order to discern and calculate the re- | than this,’ exclaimed Gloria, + that Lhave sults to which her project might Jead. | an appointment to meet a near and But when the door opened and the| very dear relative at this hostel to-day; magistrate entered, the Daughter of | indeed, the only relative that I possess. Glory immediately guessed from his ve | in the world ; and unless I be allowed te nerable appearance who he wus; and | remain here to keep that appointment, rising from her chair, she received him | I may never see her more.’ with a demeanor that was respectful,| ‘And this relative of whom you are graceful, und composed. | speaking ?’ said the magistrate, inguir- ‘Lady,’ said the old man, who “ike = - > awe i 4 = ~——_ > a Real -——- nt » ™ Op “re “Ss nt 4 * . »*% = ‘ x4 - * “ x * - Ss Le main an? ‘ a6 + ~ . * a alt aad * soe ee = =. use = 4 ~~ 4 " ~ —_e et ee » ‘ul —— = pan om wy = edie & os 2 : 7 * ots —_ ie > ~ aS. > he ~ Pie ? 5 * a - ~- a . ~ ~ =- — - « a oie - if ye Ce. ~ Toate? ‘ My sister, sir—my sister,’ answered Gloria, her eyes filling with tears. ‘But her name—whao is she ?’ asked the magistrate. ‘ For all these particu, lars am I bound to record in my official really true that you have avowed your-| report to the chief judge of the district.’ self the perpetrator of a deed which the ‘She is known by the name of Sata- imagination shudders to connect with a | nais,’ replied Gloria. being of your uppearance ?’ ‘Satanais! what, the mysterious and ‘That this hand dealt the blow, wor-| romantic lady, who owns the guardiana- shipful sir,’ responded Gloria, extending | ship of the glorious John Zitzka, the her right arm as she spoke, ‘is most} Captain-General of the ‘laborites !’ ex- true, and [ proclaim myself the mur-/claimed the magistrate, now contem- moved even to tears at the thought that one so transcendently lovely, and so full of all the charms of feminine witchery and fascination, could possibly be so deeply, deeply eriminal,—* lady, is i > = e « — in x x owt - —* = » 2. — Sac ew eerie — —. cs ae i . o 4 mh > - an —~. ' fy deress in order that suspicion should not | plating Gloria wiih enhanced curiosity, + ate fall upon the innocent. Else had it} interest, and pity. oe been eusy for me to secure my safety | ‘Tam indeed the unfortunate sister ay by flight. ‘of that self-same Satanais,’ returned ‘Bur the provocation must have been | Gloria. immetse, lady, which could have urged| ‘Then, great as already was my sym- one of your tender age and elevated | pathy towards you, lady,’ said the vee mind to the commission of sucha deed!’ | nerable official, ‘ it is now augmented a > said the mugistrate, in a gentle tone of | hundred-fold; for I am well aware that a inguiry. the T'aborite warriors revere and ho- i ‘Oh! the provocation was diabolical!’ | nor your sister Sa'anais; and for her éjaculited Gloria, with a strong em-| sake, therefore, will I do all that lies iD phasis | my power to serve you.’ | $ ‘It must have been great indeed,’ ‘A thousand thanks, kind sir, for this | i snid the weeping Linda, ‘to have im-| generosity oa your part,’ exclaimed . | peiled our dear mistress to such an ex-| Gloria. | The only favor I have to de- ih } treine.’ 'mand at your hands is to be permitted ‘Ob! sir, do her no harm—spare ‘to remain here for three or four hours : - ye =. =), - her!’ implored Beatrice, the tears longer, so that | may not miss the.ap- streaming down her countenance also. | pointment which my beloved sister gave ~ -—- = ee en ee ee ee ee : P “ pitas re eet Ee .- <_<» oo — | re eo & * a a uy © 3? » .? - » ° * Py = | comicbooks.com