The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 25 q tresses of the former to the glowing auburn | Colmar paid to Satanais: for it was evident es curls of the latter: and the olive skin of} that the T'aborite chief had conceived a Meat Satanais, so rich in its tints, contrasted | great partiality fur the Knight, whom he strangely and grandly with the brilliant | moreover treated not only with kindest hos- white and roseate softness which mingled | pitality but also with a marked respect, i in the complexion of Gloria. In fine, the But throughout the meal not a word was iat Child of Satan was of that dark splendor uttered relative to the adventures of the i which reminds the beholder of a night re- | past night; nor did Satanals once allude to Bi fulgent with moonbeams and the lustre of | Gloria. In fact, had it depended on the t countless stars: whereas the Daughter of | Child of Satan, Sir Ernest de Co/mar y Glory was bright and dazzling as 'he sun- | would not, in all probability, have learnt ie lit and unclouded morn! | that there was such a being as the Daugh- Re Such were the thoughts which swept|ter of Glory in existence: for the dark- Bi haired sister maintained a marvellous and unrccountable silence relative to the gold- en-headed beauty. through the brain of Sir Ernest de Colmar | as he gazed upon the beauty near him. On the same side of the table with Sa- tanais and the Knight, sat two handmaid- When the repast was concluded, Zitzka ens. They have already been glanced at, said to the Knight ‘1 trust, Sir Ernest de when first introduced to our readers, as} Colmar, that we shall be honored with your beautiful girls; and we may now avail our- | presence im our encampment for a few selves of the opportunity to observe that| days ©’ they were indeed well worthy, on the score ‘Most happy should I be,’ returned our of personal attractions, of attending upon hero, involuntarily glancing towards Sata- so transcendently beautiful a mistress. nais, * were it in my power to accept this The two maidens were sisters—and their | hospitable invitation. But circuinstances style of loveliness was the same ; for each imperiously compel me to continue my possessed chesnut hair, fine blue eyes, | journey towards Prague without delay. cherry lips, pearly teeth, and a slender Again did the Knight, yielding to that syiph-like share. Good girls were they, fascinating influence which the presence of too,—disereet, prudent, aud modest; and | Satanais threw around him like a spell, and they cherished an unbounded love, mingled | against which it would have been useless to with an exalted admiration, for Satanais.| struggle, even if he had made the attempt Indeed, this latter feeling was so highly | —again, we say, did he cast bis looks rapid- sublimated as to amount almost to a super- ly towards her: and it struck him at the stitious worship; and the halo of interest | moment that she bent a slightly reproach- and mystery which surrounded the Child of | ful glance upon him, as if gently upbraid- Satan was enhanced, as it were, by the re-| ing him for the intended precipitation of hig verential devotion and fervent attachment | departure, But at the next moment he felt which the charming handmaidens manifest-| certain that this could be naught save a ed towards her. freak of the fancy on his part: for, rising The elder sister, whose name was Linda, | from her seat, and beckoning her hand- had just completed her eighteenth year:| maidens to follow, she said, addressing her- the younger, who wascalled Beatrice was | self to Zitzka and the Knight, ‘We shall seventeen. Lionel and Konrad, the two| leave you together for the present—inas- pages attendant upon Sir Ernest de Colmar | much as you have doubtless some private were nineteen ; and it was therefure natu- | matters for your discourse,’ ral that they should demonstrate the most ‘One word, Satanais! exclaimed the Ta- gallant courtesy towards the handimaidens. | borite chief, with a smile: ‘can you not Equally natural was it that these amiable} joi your persuasive eloquence to my girls should experience asccret pleasure at | poor powers of speech, in order to induce finding themselves the object of attention | his Excellency to remain for a few days on the part of two such handsome youths ;| with us, that he may acquire en insight into they nevertheless received the marked Civi- | the simplicity, harmony, # nd tranquil hap- lities of Lionel and Konrad with a certain} piness of our republican mode of ‘life? coyness and bushfalness which, instead of | Come, Satanats—repeat the invitation which having the effect of an awkward reserve, | | have already given, and urge it upon the only interested the two young men all the acceptance of Sir Mirnest ce Colmar more deeply in those artless, timid, and well- ‘If Sir Ernest de Colmar wil deign to behaved dainsels. honor us with his company for a few days, As for Zitzka—couipletely recovered | he may rest assured of exreriencing the from the violence he had sustained on the | most cordial welcome ’—and as Satanais previous night, tis erim-looking but gene-| uttered these words in al! the melting rich- ous-hearted warrior beheld without dis- | ness of that voice which sounded like the pleasure the attention which Sir krnest de | vibration of a soft golden bell, her eyes eae | ) comicbooks.com