The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 283: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. remembering, or else perceiving, that she had been wounded, a wild expres- sion of terror swept over her magnifi- cent features, as her eyes settled for a few moments upon the linen which bandaged her arm.- * Who paid me this attention 7?’ she demanded abruptly, but ere her question could receive a re- ply, she caught sight of old Bernard, who was standing a few paces in the background, and her whole form was convulsed with the emotions attendant upon startling apprehensions suddenly re-awakened. ‘Lady, twas I who dressed your wound as well as | was able, in the ob- security of the staircase tower,’ said the octogenarian, now advancing. ‘In the obscurity of the staircase tower,’ repeated the Daughter of Satan, in a musing tone, and at the same time regarding the old man with an earnest- ness which seemed intended to read the thoughts uppermost in his mind ; then, evidently experiencing an im- mense relief from the result of that scrutiny, and recovering her self-pos- session, she said, ‘I thank you sincere- ly, good Messer Bernard, for your kind- ness ; and to you, Ernest—oh! to you,’ she added, in a low but tender tone, ‘how can I express all the gratitude that I feel for your conduct towards me, and all the admiration [ entertain for your prowess !” ‘Talk not to me of gratitude and ad- miration, Satanais,’ replied De Colmar, ‘n the same subdued and whispering | voice; ‘but let me hear your lips breathe assurances of love!’ ‘ Yes—oh! yes—I love you, Ernest, as never did woman love before,’ an- swered the Daughter of Satan, throw- 7 . 7 7. ing upon him all the reviving splendor of her magnificent eyes. At this moment Linda and Beatrice appeared upon the summit of the stair- case ; and when they beheld their ador- ad mistress reclining thus lovingly in the Austrian’s arms, and observed the | linen bandage upon her wound, they | gave vent to their joy and gladness in fervid ejaculations. For an immense weight was evidently lifted from their minds all in a moment; and they ex- perienced as sudden arelief from an In- | tolerable state of apprehension as a,per- son feels when dragged forth from the waves in which he was drowning. ‘Dearest Satanais,’ said Sir Ernest de Colmar, raising the dark houri gently to her feet, and abandoning his own kneel- ing posture at the same time, ‘ I shall | Besides, your wound may require the a aE re 281 now leave you to the attentions of your handmaidens, while I descend to look after that brave unknown, who has once again proved of such seasonable and im- portant assistance to me in the moment of peril.’ ‘[ will accompany you, Ernest,’ ex- claimed the Daughter of Satan, clinging | to his arm. ‘I feel quite recovered | now | §But you must obtain at least an | hour’s repose ere we resume our jour- ] ney, Satanais,’ interrupted Sir Ernest de Colmar. ‘Yes, you stand in need of rest after the severe shock you have just undergone. It yet wants an hour to sunset, and if you will consent to rest | yourself for a little while in this good ‘old man’s cell, we will then pursue our way to the nearest hostel, at which we can take up our quarters for the night. attention of your handmaidens ; ‘Yes, dear lady, we must conjure you to follow the advice which his ex- cellency gives you,’ said Linda, in a tone of earnest entreaty. But still Satanais hesitated, and still she clung to De Colmar’s arm, looking up the while into his countenance with a singular and mysterious expression of mingled fondness and apprehension de- picted upon her features. ‘No, I will not leave you, Ernest,’ she said in a faint tone ; and he sudden- ly felt that she clung to him with a hea- vier weight. ‘No, no—we must not separate, Ernest—dear Ernest—you must not leave me,’ she murmured, her splendid head drooping on his breast, as she articulated those words with diffi- culty, and in a voice that every instant became fainter and fainter. ‘No—l will not part from you; besides, there | is—Bernard—and—and—An , The remaining syllable of the forest- maiden’s name died upon her lips, as she sank insen@ble upon the breast of her lover. ‘(O God! she has fainted once more?’ he exclaimed. ‘ Linda—Beatrice , ‘ We are here, your excellency,’ cried the handmaidens, pressing forward and receiving their unconscious mistress from his arms. ‘ Bear her into my cell,’ said Old Ber- nard, ‘and you will there find every- thing requisite to restore her! Do not 'alarm yourselves on her account; ‘tis ‘the exhaustion produced by loss of | blood and overwrought feelings—and it | were only an act of common prudence ‘to insist that the lady should pass the comicbooks.com