The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

-—-- ——<— a rer a _ . —ee e 2 —— ae at om lle SS Seer st = fe ee — - * — ~ - - “ - os . - aw ~ _ = ce egy ee . ~~» - ~ of THE BRONZE STATUE, own, and looking intently upon that angelic countenance which the moonbeams soft- ly irradiated. ‘No,’ responded the beauteous being: ‘1 | dwell in a strict retirement hor, she added, in a sudden paroxysm of excite- ment, [ am so different from my sister Sa- tanais !’ *Then am I to say farewell to you now —so soon after having enjoyed the indesceri- bable happiness of having formed your ac- quaintance—and uncertain when! may be- hold you again—or, indeed, whether we may ever meet any more?’ said Sir Ernest de Colmar, speaking in broken sentences, and giving an almost involuntary utterance to the thoughts which were uppermost in his mind, “Do you wish to see me again,’ asked Gloria, sweeping her looks around, and ob serving that Zitzka was not at the moment nigh enough to hear this question which she so hastily and whisperingly put. *Yes—Oli! yes!’ exclaimed the Knight, but alsospeaking in a lowtone; and,as the moonlight streamed upon the tranecendent- ly beautiful countenance of Gloria, he sought to read her response in those dark, deep, unfathomeble eyes which shone with 80 concentrated and supernal a lustre. * You are going to Prague, are you not ?” she said, with the same rapid utterance and low voice as before: then, as the Knight made an affirmative gesture in answer to her question, she added in a more tremu- lous and timid tone, ‘On the first dav of August [ shall be there likewise; and at|ther viewed noon precisely I shall be alone on the southern rampart of the city.’ *Thanks—a thousand thanks, sweetest lady” murmured De Colmar, r. ising her hands to his lips and imprinting a kiss upon the soft, plump, warm flesh—a kiss which sent a thrill of extacy throuzh his heart.— ‘At noon, on the first of August, we shall meet again.’ Grloria darted upon him a look which sent beams of enchanting—witching—intoxica- ting tenderness in unto the deepest recess- 6s of his soul; and, withdrawine her hand, she plunged into the profound shades of the wood, Sir Ernest de Colmar watched the white retreating dripery until it was no longer visible amidst the dinse foliage: then sud- denly awaking as it were from a deep trance, he heaved asigh at the thought that the rad ant being had passed from his presence. Hastening to rejoin Zitzka, who was walking slowly on in advance, the Knight accompanied the Taborite chief back to the encampmen!, on gaining which they sepa- oh? CHAPTER X. THE DAUGHTER OF SATAN. BETWEEN eight and nine o'clock in the | morning, breakfast was served up in Zitz- | kas pavilion, Upon a rough table was spread the fru: gal but plentiful and varied articles com- posing the meal: jars of honey, flagons of milk, piles of fruit, and thin cakes of wheat- ‘en bread, were tastefully arranged upon the | | | | | | : ee tt — board, around which Satanais and her handmaidens, Sir Ernest de Colmar and his pages, and the ‘laborite chieftain were cathered. - The beauitful Satanais sate next to the Knight, to whom she did the honors of the neal, selecting for him the ripest, finest, and most luscious fruit, and presenting it to him with a modest air of friendly cour-. tesy which rendered her enchantingly be- witching. Andas Sir Ernest de Colmar gazed upon her he was more than ever struck, even to bewilderment, by the mar- vellous resemblance existing between her- ‘self and her sister Gloria: for in the color of the hair and the tint of the complexion existed the only discrepancies, marked end decided though these were, Had Satanais and Gloria been splendid statues instead of magnificent women, the beholder would have. declared that they were Cast in the same mould, but colored | differently. For the countenance of Satanais, whe- in the full face or in the pro- file. was shaped precisely like that of Glo- ria: the admirably formed head was fitted upon the proud arching neck in the same manner ;—the bust was of the same con- figuration—the same contours ;—the arms were of the same soft and flowing outlines —the hands identical save in complexion— (he nails of the same almond shape and pelucid rosiness: the stature was the same to a hair’s breadth—the waist would be mea- sured by the same girdle to the utmost nicety ! And now, moreover, when Sir Ernest de Colmar looked into the glorious depths of the eyes of Satanais, he fancied that he even traced the same expression—the same meaning, signification, feeling, and passion in those lustrous orbs—the same supernal brilliancy in their glances—the same ming- ling of tenderness and pride, sunny warmth and lightning vividness, voluptu- ous ardor and overawing power—yes—al] and each the same as in the eyes of Glo- ria! But then the hairand complexion of Sa- rated, the former returning to his tent, and |tanais were so different to those of Gloria ! the latter to his pavilion. | | | As ebony was to gold, so were the jetty — = of Ee —————=—=—==== OS a COMICDOOKS.COlmN