The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 380: what you’re looking at

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

378 THE BRONZE dent compassion which marks your manner towards me.’ ‘The captain bowed and then pro- ceeded to open the parcel. a complete suit of female apparel, be- longing to the peasant class, and also some provisions. in these simple articles, which any fe- male wayfarer might possess, to engen- der ulterior suspicions in the minds of the T'aborite soldiers; they acc ordingly re-fastened the packet and returned i to Angela. And now please to accompany me, young damsel,’ said the captain, at the same time intimating by A signal to the | soldiers of the guard that the y need not follow too closely behind; for the offi- It contained | ‘There was nothing | cer, who wus a kind-hearted man, was | anxious to spare the maiden’s feelings | as much as possible, and omit all unne- cessary ceremony in escorting her to the pavilion of the captain-general. Entering the encampment, they threaded its mazes of tents all arranged like the streets of a vast town, and il- luminated by the fires at which the cu- linary process was going on in prepara- tion for the evening meal. ‘Lhe cap-| tain acknowledged the salute of the seutinels who were passed ; and Angela kept close to his side, her heart agitated with a variety of conflicting feelings. At length the pavilion of the ‘l'aborite chieftain was reached ; and, in reply to the demands of Angela’s guide, the sentinels posted at the entrance of the spacious tent declared that the captain general was within, and likewise alone at the moment. The velvet curtain which closed the door-way of the pavilion was drawn aside, and the captain-general of the Taborites rose from a table at which he was seated, when, by the light of the lamp that burned within the tent, he saw that a young female was being con- ducted into his presence. Angela Wildon had seen the mighty Zitzka when, as Gloria’s guest, she was an inmate of the Castle of Prague ; but never had she before been so close to him as now she stood. ‘lhe furtive and anxious glance which she threw up at the countenance of the grim warrior a ee ee ee r was indeed little calculated to inspire her with much confidence; for the ex- pression of his features was usually stern and seyere, and the thought of the ocean of blood that was shed “that day, had excited in-his mind painful ponder- ings which were now reflected in his ‘can witli entices Nevertheless. Angela | gela W ildon STATUE. was not disheartened; for she had al- ready determined upon the course which she should pursue. ‘What requirest thou of me, young damsel?’ said the captain-general of the glorious republican reformers; and as he spoke, he threw into his voice as much kindness as possible—for there was something in the features of An- which instantaneously touched his soul and enlisted all his t | feelings in her favor. ‘The young woman is a prisoner, |may it please you, general,’ said the cap! tain of the guard, ‘A prisoner !’ exclaimed Zitzka, with evident surprise. ‘Is it possible that a damsel of such gentle mien and pleas- ing aspect can be in any way dangerous to the interests of Mount ‘Tabor?’ ‘And yet, mighty chief,’ said the cap- tain, ‘ this prepossessing damsel, a sin- gle hair of whose head I would not in- |jure for worlds, is a heroine of no com- | mon order.’ ‘The sentiment of leniency and mer- cy, which thou didst utter parentheti- cally, was most honorable to thine heart, good friend,’ observed John Zitzka. ‘But wherefore hast thou brought this damsel before me?’ ‘In the full conviction that you, gene- ral, will accord her some of thine ad- miration, even while visiting her with thy blame,’ said the good-natured cap- tain, ‘[f no longer hesitate to inform thee that the crime wherewith my pri- soner now stands charged, is that of neros rescued the Baron of Altendorf, he Marquis of Schomberg, and the Count of Rosenberg from the Castle of Prague.’ é‘ WwW hat!’ exclaimed the captain-ge- neral of the ‘l'aborites, mingled amaze- ment, incredulity, and admiration being suddenly depicted on his countenance; ‘was it indeed a heroine, and not a hero, who accomplished that adventure ?’ ‘The damsel will not deny a feat of which. so far as its valor is concerned, she may well be proud,’ observed the captain of the guard, who lost no oppor- tunity of putting in a word on Angela’s behalf ‘Is this true, young woman?’ de- manded Zitzka, adee per and more ten- der interest flashing in his one eye as he fixed it e: irnestly upon her. ‘Such, illustrious chief, is indeed the truth,’ responded Angela, her counte- nance suffused with burning blushes. ‘And tell me, thou charming plotter against the interests of my gov ernment, comicbooks.com