The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 290: what you’re looking at

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

Pits ih Re | means to turn his thoughts into the| Upon this portrait did the baron gaze in Bi al? channel so much desired by his friends. | silence for a long time - but the gather- | 2 | ] accordingly obtained the portraits of| ing rapture of his se! might ee read a ee, the most beautiful daughters of the | upon his features. It was not difficult mi } neighboring chieftains, and hung them| to observe that his pulse began to beat ha ty all in my suite of apartments at the| with a new sense of existence, and if ve | castle. When this arrangement had that the feelings with which that lovely i 4 p been privately made, one of the baron’s countenance and graceful figure inspir- Bi ig friends, acrording to a pre ‘viously con-|ed him were far different from those md a certed mode of procedure, said to me} that he had experienced in the society ih at the banquetting-table, ‘‘I understand, ! of the mistresses who had once held iA ee Messer Bernard; that you have recent-| him enthralled in their silken chains. :) i ) 4 ly been making a collection of pictures, | At length, unable torestrain his trans- Ba a and now that the thought strikes me, I} port, he turned towards me, excl: ming, | ie beseech permission to visit your cham-| ‘*Oh! my dear Bernard, if that were ) Bt bers and inspect the works of art which | anything more than a fancy -portrait, 3 H | you are treasuring there !’ | and if the original were young and ai ‘** What! Bernard a patron of the} beautiful at this moment as she is re- ny Tee fine arts!’’ exclaimed Lord Ildegardo,; presented there, I would hasten to At Bee in whose presence the observation had throw myself at her feet and demand | been purposely made ; ‘“‘I fancied that} permission to love and woo her.” | he was too much occupied with leases} ‘*‘* Your lordship will therefore be | and rent rolls, architects and gardeners, | | pleased to learn,’’ said I, ‘+ that the or- HERE accounts and money-matter's, to find any ; ginal of this portrait is not only in exis- bi leisure for more gentle pursuits.’ | tence at the present moment, but un- * «* Nevertheless,’’ exclaimed the} married and likewise a near neighbor. " friend who had previously spoken, ‘‘I| Indeed, her residence is se: reely two Can assure your lordship that Messer! hours’ ride from ildegardo Castle.” Bernard has managed to collect several} ‘**O, Bernard. is this possible ? or beautiful pictures, chiefly portraits, | are you deceiving me?” exclaimed the believe. J have the statement from his | baron, in a perfect enthutiasm of rap- own valet, and your lordship perceives | ture. ‘* Who is the enchanting crea- that Messer Bernard does not offer any | ture? and where does she dw ell # contradiction,”’ | ‘The original of that picture, my | ‘Tf this be really true, Bernard,’ | Jord,” said I, “is the Lady E niflag the said the baron, whose curlosity was ex-| youngest and loveliest daughter of Ba- cited, ‘‘ {| must crave permission on my | ron Georgey. own behalf for the inspection of your| ‘* * Alas !”? exclaimed I[!degardo, his curiosities ; and there is no time like} countenance suddenly falling ; ‘* scarce- the present for the gratification of the| ly have I imbibed intoxic: iting draughts whim.’ lof love, when I am forced to drink deep +“ Be it so, my lord,” I said, without of the bitter bowl of despair. For has any apparent emotion; and rising from | not the Baron Ge sorgey sworn .to de- the table, I led the way to my own suite | vote all his daughters to the service of of apartments, accompanied by the ba-| the church, in the hope that their pray- ron and allthe guests who were pre-| ers wil) move heaven to restore to him sent on the occasion. his only son, who was stolen in his boy- | ‘ Elis lordship derived far more inte-| hood long years ago 2?” rest from this inspection than he had ‘* itis true, my lord,” I answered, anticipated. ‘I'he assemblage of por-|‘*that the only son and heir of Baron traits presented a perfect galaxy of|Georgey was, supposed, when a little a! beanty ; and he contemplated them one} child, to have been stolen by gipsies, it of after another with untfeigned admira- | | some twenty-two or twenty- -three — ‘eh tion. But ut last his gaze was com- | ago,—true also that the baron did, cet pletely fuscinated by the portrait of a| the wildness of his orief at the mre | charming creature, with golden caih. | dedicate his daughters to the service of set a seraphic complexion, and yet with : heaven. But the Lady Emilia was born Re, We eyes of the deepest blackness. Kven | four or five years subsequently to that ‘pic! iit on the canvass did her figure seem float-; oath; and I have been assured that in- Pies: i ing with an indefinable grace; and the asmuch as she could not possibly nave Oe ia a animation of virgin innocence und yonth-; been included in her father’s vow, she Pays ii , ful loveliness lighted her angelic eodan ttn not destined to take the veil as all SMe en |p tenance and shed a halo around her.|her sisters have done. Nay, more—l : : p?* es ¢ .* 4 : “ : '# To ( a comicbooks.com