The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

‘ome, Sir Knight—we will retrace our | subdued cry of anguish, under the impres- way to the church , ston that Zitzka had been murdered : for ‘Rather, dear lady,’ interrupted de Col-| that this was the redoubtable Taborite mar, taking her hand,—‘ rather permit me | chief who lay stretched on the altar-s‘eps, to esvort you in safety back to the encamp- | there was no doubt—his massive weapons, ment; and then, having alarmed the Ta- 'corselet, and other martial accoutrements ? proving his identity as the hand of the Knight passed over his form, borites, [ wil] hasten at their head ‘Sir Ernest de Colmar, [ implore you to it ' 39 THE BRONZE STATUE. | a4 | be guided by me?’ exclaimed the singular} ‘ His countenance is cold—and _yet it i8 tt | creature, in a tone of passionate entreaty.| not the chill of death,’ said Sir Ernest de HH ‘For heaven’s sake, think not of arousing | Colmar. “* No--life is not extinct—a spasm the troops! Come with me—fear not that/ vibrates through his frame—consciousness my presence will impede your proceedings | is returning. Oh! for a light - pe | in any peril which there may be to encoun- ‘Stay !—in an instant | will return, in- | teri On the contrary, my arm—feeble | terrupted Gloria: and her soft retreating though it be—shall second your own, | footsteps fell upon De Colmar’s ear through | which is so mighty and powerful. Behold!| the black darkness which prevailed in the | [ am not altogether defenceless ! churcn. | And the long flexible blade of a dagger,| Ina few moments a light flashed from | which she drew from amidst the folds of| that door-way near the altar whence Zitzka i her flowing white dress, gleamed in the| had led forth the angelic being at the com- is} | moonlight across the countenance of Sir| mencement described ina previous chapter: hi Ernest de Colmar. and Gloria now reappeared, bearing a wax- | ‘Strange and romantic being—as incom- | taper in her hand. prehensibdle as thou art lovely—and as ful! | ‘Zitzka is recovering 1? exclaimed the of mystery as thy sister Satanais,’ eX Knight, the moment the lustre fell upon claimed the Knight, in the ardour of en- |the features of the grim warrior: then, thusiasm wrought up almost to a fanatic | sweeping his looks rapidly around, he said, worship,—‘ ’tis for you to command and |‘ The individual from whose power I was for me to obey. Come, then—we_ will| ‘ortunate enough to deliver you, beautiful i He | retrace our steps to the church—and woe | Jady, is not here.’ Rit i . > y 5 | , " NO. ‘ ° ‘ ° Bil | betide the wretch w no may dare to me | ‘No,’ she responded, in an agitated voice, it | — thee with npr st ae | and with an evident fluttering of the heart i, AS ay ah eg wt ae & tone inside the bosom that palpitated percepti- drew his sword from its sheath; and, | ard fled—if killed, his accomplices have though the good stee] blade glistened | ..noved him, brightly in the moonbeams, yet far more : ? lustrous was the glance of silent gratitude| Put scarcely had Gloria uttered these words ina hasty and excited tone—as if which the splendid eyes of Gloria threw | she was pained or rather vexed at the sus- upon him athe same time. , | baer: They then began to retrace their way pense in which the circumstance left her rapidly towards the church. as to whether the individual alluded to were alive or dead, when she seemed suddenly to recollect that all her thoughts and all her care should now be bestowed upon A itzka. | ‘See! the Captain General is only stunn- VONCLUSION OF THE NIGHT'S ADVENTURE, | €4, said the Knight: ‘He is recovering— | the color is returning to his cheeks—hia In a few minutes the gallant Sir Ernest | !ips are already quivering.’ | de Colmar and the beautiful Gloria reacher | * But heavens! how murderous was the | the sacred edifice; and opening the doo-|blow that did this mischief! exclaimed gently, they listened for a moment to as- | Gloria, who, having sunk upon her knees certain if either voices or footsteps denoted | in order to sustain the head of the Captain- — the presence of any individuals within. | General, and having parted his black hair Uninterruptedly they made their way | from over his brow, now pointed with her towards the altar. Sir Ernest stooped down | taper finger toa severe contusion above the and felt carefully about on the spot where | right temple. * Let us bear him into the Zitzka had stood during the ceremony: vesiry, where we shall doubtless find re- and his hand presently encountered a hu-|storatives—Oh ! she cried, suddenty inter- man form lying prostrate and motionless.— | rupting herself, while her voice assumed a This circumstance he instantaneously com-| tone of rending anguish—‘if he were to ; municated to Gloria, who gave vent to a| die, never could I forgive myeelf: for it wag EN Oe SS ee ae = — : : we “ _— .— ¥ “Eh Oe ‘~ -~ - -—? y. aocw \ > 7 ees ‘, a, a_i - —_ tem + - a ~ ' CHAPTER IX. ‘ e - — ~—- oe <—- ~ 4 - ” ao’ J * i ee ee gg -6* « +> s - . ~_ oe a - a = - a - = @« « _— = _——-—< - * .-&+* — - - e “ - r= a. i eo a ~ = ° ~ - -. _ — a della a ‘ ere IPS Se => £20 yim —" — a —_ _ — se ene ee as : a se - eT > —— es o~ ° o-_ > —_ — — . *. = . - ne tea ee ee eee eee ee eee COMICDOOKS.COlN