The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

- » es —— a hel pS > THE BRONZE STATUE. 4 i. —7 a - ~< rs ~ ~~ . |, ° and even paused to view that ancient edi-| benevolence.’ fice whereof you speak, said the Knight.; * You speak of dread auspices,’ said the ‘ But what connezion has it with the details | Knight, in amazement at the words, which you are giving me relative to the| ‘Ah! I had forgotten to tell your ixcel- Baroness ?” lency what a mysterious tragedy to.k place ‘That old building is Hamelen Castle, | at the time to which | was alluding,’ ex- and likewise belongs to her ladyship,’ con- | claimed the landlord ; then, having refilled tidued the landlord. ‘ At the same time | the wine cups, he continued in a more sub- that the White Mansion—for by this name|dued and serious tone:— At the same is the new edifice generally known—re-| period that the Baroness was having the ceived its widowed and orphan occupants| White Mansion built, she was also employ- twelve years ago, the Castle became an | ing several masons and carpenters 1n alter- asylum tor an equal number of friendless,| ing, repairing, and improving the Castle. parentless, and destitute young men, be-| Amongst these men there were three tween seventeen and thirty years of age. | brothers of the name of Suhwartz; two were A holy priest presides over the male com- | masons—the third was a carpenter. Now, munity at Hamalen Castle ; yet is it not aj it appears—for the story ie quite fresh in monastic establishment any more than that; my memory—that when the alterations and of the White Mansion is a nunnery. For| changes were finished at the Castle, the occasionally the members of the two com- | Baroness dismissed all the men witha hand- munities meet to indulge in the innocent| some present in addition to their wages: recreations of dancing, music, and conver-| but, suddenly recollecting that there was sation in the saloons of the White Man- | stil] some trifling litle thing to do on the sion: and your Excellency may be well premises, she bade the three brothers re- assured that, not only on account of the|main. ‘They accordingly stayed at the influence of the Baroness’s excellent exam-| Castle; and, as it frequently happens in ple, but likewise through those good feel-| such cases, there was more work found for ings which a sentiment of unbounded gra- | them than had at first been expected; and titude to herself engenders, the utmost pro-| instead of tarrying a few days only afver priety is observed. From these meetings, | their comrades had left, they were kept however, matrimonial alliances are con-|there for several weeks. Doubtless this stantly resulting ; and when such an alli-| circumstance provoked the jealousy of some ance takes place, with the approval of the| of those comrades: for the three brothers Baroness, a handsome provision is made by ; Schwartz disappeared with a suddenness her ladyship for the fortunate couple, who| and a mystery leaving little doubt that they thenceforth settle wherever they choose.” |had been inurdered. The Baroness, who ‘Such benevolence 1s almost incredible, | had already been for some weeks installed exclaimed Sir Ernest de Colmar. ‘ This|in her new abode, was cruelly distressed woman of whom you are speaking must be} when she heard of this strange and afflict- something more than human, for her cha-|ing occurrence: but she acted with all the racter is divine?!’ energy, promptitude, and spirit which such ‘Her only study appears to be the hap-|a strong-minded and excellent woman was piness of her fellow-creatures,’ said the| sure to display under such circums‘ances, landlord. ‘ Ah! well do I recollect when | She offered a large reward to any one who her humane intentions towards the widow | should discover a clue leading to the fute and the orphan were first made public, | of the missing brothers—and she at once continued Templin: ‘ the whole city was| provided handsomely for the wives and enthusiastic in her praise! Nevertheless, | families whom they had left behind them.’ there were a few discontented persons, who| ‘ And was their fate ever ascertained é would look upon even an angel’s visit with | inquired Sir Ernest de Colmar. distrust, and who shook their heads myste-| ‘ Never,” was the response. ‘* Some of rious'y, intimating at the same time, in | their former comrades were arrested on significant whispers, that the plan would | suspicion of having dealt foully with them: prove a failure—that the idea was erro-| but the most rigorous researches on the neous, however good the intention—and | part of the officers of justice, and the most that the Baroness was a visionary enthu-| petient investigation made by the judges giast. But, despite of these sinister predic- | themselves, failed to elicit a single tittle of tions—despite, also, of the dread and mys- | evidence to criminate the accused, ‘i hey terious auspices under which the two estab- | were accordingly set at liberty ; and the lishments appeared to open, they have suc- | Baroness, with characteristic generosity, ceeded to the full extent of her ladyships| rewardec them with no niggard hand for expectations, and she has reaped the reward | the long imprisonment which, although in- of beholding so large a number of her! nocent, they had endured.’ ‘ Yes—I remember well that ! perceived | fellow-creatures made happy by her pure | Ay O84 - = ie . Te Tee _? 2 we TS va —_ * =. a Me apap et A lies =< ye _/ a Pn ae ae | + ~<a ¥ “* a ~ P * z rs r i Be f mee eEE_I(<(__000OO8ODOe—=oaw—eee——_O EEE mmm diesel me comicbooks.com