The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 378: what you’re looking at

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

ah, * or ane me | P _— . 2 oe 7 in ee ee we ~~ ~~ «- j®e~~ 2 —_ 4 ar _ : 5 e? 9 Pi * p74 w* ‘ eee , "Ft 14) - ; 376 THE BRONZE STATUE. surrendered much of their foliage to the approaching winter. The place was not therefore so completely involved in obscurity as to prevent Angela from ex- amining either its interior or its 1mme- diate vicinity outside ; and having as- sured herself that she was unobserved, she stooped down to discover if possible | the trap-door which communicated with | the vaulted passages leading into the awful subterraneans of the Castle of Al- tendorf. Beneath her cloak she had a parcel which she deposited upon the pavement | while she thus searched for the trap- door. Several minutes elapsed, and not a trace of that trap-door could she dis- cover. Well she knew that it fitted into the floor with admirable ingenuity, for this passing observation she had made when the White Lady conducted her thence, on that occasion the details of which our readers cannot have forgot- ten. Yes, well aware was Angela that every precaution shielded this trap-door from the chances of discovery ; but she did not anticipate so much difficulty in finding it. But even if she could succeed in as- certaining which stone it was that serv- ed as the trap-door, how could she open it? ‘This question had the maiden ask- ed herself more than once while wend- ing her way thither that day; but she had noticed, on the former occasion above alluded to, that there was some secret spring outside, or rather above, as well us beneath the particular stone; and hope—that fervid feeling which ani- mates heroism with its spirit—had buoyed her up with the idea that she would not be baffled in her search for the means of opening the trap-door. Alas! that hope was gradually disap- pearing ; ten minutes had elapsed, and still was the anxious Angela straining with her eyes and feeling with her hands to discover the secret avenue of communication with those neans into which she was so desirous to penetrate. ‘l’he obscurity of evening was deepening around her; darker were growing the shades of the forest outside the chapel, and more intense became the gloom within. What could she do? Lo procure alight appeared impossible, and yet how was she to continue her search in the pitchy darkness that in a| few minutes would envelope her ? Suddenly she heard voices in the fo- rest. Starting from her stooping pos- ture, Angele listened with the most breathless attention. subterra- ‘Which is the next post to be reliey- ed?’ demanded a voice, speaking in a tone of authority. ‘Is there no watch kept in this part of the forest ?’ ‘It is usual, captain, to place a senti- ‘nel during the night in a little chapel ‘which there is close by,’ was the re- 'sponse, delivered in a respectful man- ‘ner; and as this brief dialogue was im- | mediately followed by the trampling of |several footsteps, Angela was at no loss ‘to comprehend that the relieving guard | was approaching. Retreating into the farthest corner of the little chapel, and crouching down, 'she hoped to escape observation ; if not, she trusted to the talismanic ring which De Colmar had given her, to help her ‘out of any embarrassment into which she might become temporarily involved. Scarcely had she retired inte the darkest nook of the chapel, when a stream of light was thrown across the entrance; and the foremost soldier of the ‘T'aborite guard appeared upon the threshold, bearing a pine-torch in his hand. ‘The glare illumined the whole place; and, as the man casually glanced around, he instantaneously beheld An- gela Wildon. ‘Ah! whom have we here?’ he cried, advancing into the chapel as he spoke ; and at the same instant the cap- tain of the guard, with a dozen follow- |ers, appeared at the open entrance- way. ‘lam an inhabitant of this district, and am no enemy to the Tuborites,’ said Angela, coming forward, and speak- ing with a modest dignity which instan- taneously won for her the respect of the honest Republican soldiers; and at the same time the ring upon her finger | flashed like a meteor in the torch-light- | * Question the damsel not, and Jet her |go her ways in peace,’ exclaimed the captain of the guard. ‘She wears a talisman which is superior to all the instructions that sentinels have to fulfil ? ‘Heavens! is it possible!’ suddenly ejaculated one of the private soldiers forming the guard; and rushing for- ward, he gazed for a few moments with an intent earnestness upon Angela’s countenance. It immediately struck the forest- maiden that the man’s features were ‘not altogether unfamiliar to her; but ‘where she had seen them before, or ‘under what circumstances, slie could ‘not for the life of her remember. Not long, however, was she suffered to re- ——_ ct tt comicbooks.com