Beautiful Rienzi; or, The secret vendetta — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

12 BEAUTIFUL RIENZI, low, musical voice. ‘‘I was not aware of the presence of another lady.” ‘“ My sister Ivanilla—Mr. Cecil Beaumont,” said Isolina. On the instant a small, strong hand was clasping mine, a pair of fiery, red-brown eyes leaped into mine. I raised my eyes to a face which was pale, and fierce, and resolute, despite its boyish youthfulness. And as I read what was expressed in the restless face, I saw behind its mystic beauty a great sorrow in the past, or in the future, which threw a chill weight upon my soul, ‘Ts this the foreign sister? They say she is a goddess of romance; ail heart, nerve, sympathies. What then will your sympathy do for me? Behold me, a poor wretch, who lives on his wits—ay, an author—and an exile, in a land of enmity, condemned to win bread from hands which helped to dig his father’s grave. Behold me, a victim to the Queen of Beauty, kneeling toa heart of ice. Come now, do you pity me?” : | : ‘*Mr. Beaumont!” broke in my sister’s voice, so coldly and with such scorn that I scarce could believe I heard my mild-hearted Isolina. | He turned to her and took a quick step toward her with such hunger, wild and yearning, in his eyes that one could on the spot discern the reason of his being there. ‘Shall I go away?” I whispered to my sister. | She bowed her head, though I hoped she would detain me. It was he, the visitor, who caught my hand as I passed, aid pressed it to his lips.. ‘¢ Plead for me!” he whispered, once more transfixing me with those fiery, red-brown eyes. I shivered and retreated, my heart throbbing with dismay. The deepening sunset smote my sister’s face, and filled the room with glory. I turned softly to the door, glided out and stood in the hall alone. Darkness filled that face and room when next I looked upon them; the shadow had slid within the portal, and our days of girlish happiness were over. CORNUCG OOO S (©)