Beautiful Rienzi; or, The secret vendetta — page 221: what you’re looking at

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

216 BEAUTIFUL RIENZI, self-abnegation of her love to bind her indissolubly to my- self. ‘You will scorn me, as I scorn myself, when you hear how I repaid her generosity. ““*You see me now, perhaps at my best,’ I replied, gloomily; ‘perhaps you would loathe me at my worst—a homeless, defamed, nameless outcast.’ «<* Never—never,’ she returned, clasping her hands. ‘©¢ Prove it then, by binding yourself to me by a tie which no man can break,’ I uttered, in a low, husky voice. ‘She started, and became a little paler. ““<T will give you my vow to be constancy itself,’ she murmured. ‘‘« Vows are idle words, when remorse and contempt come between,’ I returned, impulsively. ‘Nay, my Iso- lina; put yourself beyond the power of friends who would preach down your heart; be my wife this night, that I may claim you when IJ return.’ She flushed to the brow, and stood away from me. “¢<¢ Without father or mother to say, ‘‘ Heaven bless you both!” without friends of either to approve? No, Victor.’ “Then I flung myself on the ground at her feet, with the despair at my heart painting dark assurances. I en- treated and urged, remembering only my selfish fears, until she came to me and raised me from my abject frenzy. «Never plead so to me, my Victor,’ she said, leaning against me with a low sob; ‘I will marry you, as you wish, and gloryin my chains. The marriage vow can take the ylace of the customary engagement; each is sacred to me.’ *“T caught her rapturously in my arms and whispered rapid directions, to which she listened with a hidden face. “<1Do not let it be known,’ she whispered, ‘it would be called so very, very imprudent of me—and I do not think it is, for Ido love and trust but one, and should never marry another. Victor, this is only asolemn betrothal.’ ‘“T read her sweet, girlish fears, and reassured her. The marriage should only be a betrothal, which bound us in- dissolubly, and no one should know of it except my friend Pemberton whom I could trust, and perhaps some one in the cottage whose reserve could be relied upon. When I could return from Hngland we should be married publicly. «*<Yes, yes; said my treasure, who was now quite radiant, ‘and weshall tell papa and mamma and little Ivanilla all CORNUCG OOO S (©)