Beautiful Rienzi; or, The secret vendetta — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

138 BEAUTIFUL RIENZLI. foot; “I am more than surprised, that the sister of the cele- brated Rienzi walks unprotected through the streets!” The wickedness with which she sneered these words raised my slumbering passion like a spark to touch-wood. ‘My scorn on the woman who proves a false friend!” I returned, gazing steadily in her face. ‘Scorn Miss Isolina Rienzi, then!” she said, with a laugh, ‘and between your scorn and my vengeance, which I mean to pursue, perhaps justice may be satisfied.” ‘* Miss Meredith,” I said, turning pale with the effort to command mvself, ‘‘ circumstances have proved my sister innocent. Withdraw your persecution or this whole city will execrate your name.” ‘<< And do I care?” was the defiant retort, while her blue eyes scintillated with sparks of rage. ‘‘ She was the cause of my being deserted this day, and for that I will be avenged. ‘A blow for a blow ’—that is my creed.” “?Tis a dog’s creed that—a savage religion. I pity you.” " «< Reserve your pity for those who suffer by it.” ‘< Beware!” I exclaimed, stung to the heart by her cru- elty; ‘‘ beware how you mingle gall in my innocent sister’s cup. She is broken-hearted and dying with the weight of other people’s crimes; no mean vengeance of yours is needed to hasten her doom.” | , ‘Tt has come already, then?” she cried, exultingly; “‘ the time which I prophesied would come, when her beauty would be a memory and her talents turned to her own destruction! Dying isshe? Come—I’m sorry for you, and will prove it. I will prove it. I will drive you home, lest some of the hit- tle urchins on the street recognize you and prove trouble- some; and you shall tell your sister that Lillia Meredith is still human, though she has a dog’s creed. Come in.” She turned the silver handle of the carriage-door and pointed toa seat, with a half-touched. expression struggling with the harder lines upon her face. | I might have seized the momentary softening in its faint birth, and strengthened it into permanent contrition, by my own gentleness, but I was trembling with indignation and let the opportunity pass which might have saved so much SOITOW. ‘© When you remember vour enmity against my sister, | shall accept your benefits,” I replied, coldly. COMICOOO S (©)