The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 371: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 369 days yet, a prey to a monotony whence | you be happy when returning to that my soul already shrinks with horror. | forest-home , But for each of us there is the conso-| ‘Oh! I trust in God to send me hap- lation that we shall meet again. Per-| piness,’ exclaimed Angela, but with haps you will be enabled to return to} that shivering of the form and tight- me before I take leave of these ruins, | ness at the heart which carried to her and continue my journey homeward ? | own soul the conviction that the hopes If not, depend upon it, Angela—dear|of her youth were entombed in the Angela—that within a few months [| love which she bore for that man from shall revisit these districts,—yes, on| whom she was about to separate—per- purpose to see you, and with no other | haps for ever! aim ‘It would destroy my faith in hea- ‘Oh! Iam not worthy of such gene-| ven’ s justice and goodness, Angela,’ rous conduct on your part!’ exclaimed | said the knight, ‘were you to ex peri- the heroine, her eyes brightening and| ence a life of sorrow. No, such can- her cheeks flushing with a pleasure | not, must not, shall not be the case !|— which she could not conceal. (tod will shield thee from harm, thou ‘Ye, you are worthy of any atten- | heroic maiden; heaven will shower its tion which it may be in my power to| blessings upon thine head, thou paragon demonstrate towards you, dearest An-|of female excellence! And in the ela,’ said the Austrian knight, with a| space of a few months, Angela, when farvid enthusiasm vibrating in his voice|the sunny smiles of Spring shall be and glowing upon his features ; ‘you| wooing the groves to put forth their are worthy of all the testimonials of) verdure, and the soft breath of April gratitude which a man whose life you| shall waft the song of the bird on its have many times saved, can possibly | zephyr wing—then, dear Angela, mayst offer; you are worthy of being elevat-| thou look forward to a visit from one ed toa rank, and endowed with a for-| who implores thee to regard him as a tune, that will enable you to widen the/ friend and a brother! Tell me, Ange- sphere of your usefulness and confer | la, tell me, shalt thou be glad to behold additional benefits upon your fellow-| me some day emerging from the depths creatures: and I can confidently pro-| of the forest, surprising thee at thy cot- mise you, my well beloved sister, that) tage-door, and proving to thee by my from the new Emperor of Germany || presence that [am no ingrate towards shall be enabled to obtain ample recog-| one whose memory I have every cause nition of the services you have render-| to cherish ?’ ed to Sir Ernest de Colmar!’ But the maiden could give no verbal ‘Oh! I seek not for wealth, I aspire | answer to the question thus put; her not to rank,? murmured Angela, again | feelings were once more wrought up to trembling with undefinable and bewil-|an overpowering degree,—while_ the dering feelings as that reiteration of a|tears streamed down her cheeks like language so lofty fell upon her ears rain. Yet in the deep blush which with all the imposing effect of a cannon | mantled on those cheeks and in the firing a salute. ‘The moment that cir-| tell-tale glance which beamed through cumstances will permit,’ she continued, | those tears, was a response conveyed— ‘7 shall return to my forest-home ; and|a response ten thousand times more under the roof and the care of my| eloquent than if it had been shaped in adopted parents shall [ court the tran- words. quil happiness of that humble sphere in| +‘ Farewell, Sir Knight—farewell !’ she which my lot has placed me. At the | at length sobbed forth. ‘ Pardon this same time I return my heartfelt grati- | weakness—this folly : tude to your excellency for those gene-| ‘Oh: blame not ‘yourself, dearest rous intimations which you have thrown | sister,’ interrupted De Colmar, his own out, and for the kind views which you} eyes becoming dimmed with tears.— have entertained in my behalf.’ ‘Farewell, my heroine-deliverer in Thus speaking, she rose from the| danger, my angel-saviour in illness,— chair by the. bedside; ‘twas @ signal | farewell, faruwell °’ that the instant for separation had And, seizing her hand, the knight come ! pressed it to his lips. ‘Angela, I shall never, never forget} For nearly a minute did the forest- all your kindness towards me,’ snid De} maiden abandon that fair hand to the Colmar, in a voice that was now deeply; warrior’s fervid grasp and warm ca- moved. ‘But you, sweet maiden, shall| resses ; then, suddenly recollecting her- comicbooks.com i a — oe - ei ae aie 27 *_#s2<3 ass 5. © Fue CP. . eee - a - - °F . - > wee Pep ele <r eenty oo Om + oP ree b- 8 wer we, ~ ee 9 <n eae a a = = aks ie *-.. a * -_ ». “<.~e ~ — 2 ~~ owe “ss — > oe a + =e * - OO ine - & Fea’ Saks ~*~ ~*< < ‘ ia. - -% — a . “ee te ° pe ole ~~ -- 7 Ds —ae a ° ot - *" ~ < - Sle © 4 4, - a =f a ~~. - “een ee : oe ey SS Ca oP. % we We Fe aang nnn, _- . , 7 ae . . =~ G2 = cee - = -_- s - ~~ -* ad és - f te Tia * = ap tad. 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