Beautiful Rienzi; or, The secret vendetta — page 242: what you’re looking at

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

BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. 237 Silverlea; he has told me; he waits there for his beloved bride.” ‘Ah, me! say no more,” she exclaimed, wildly, ‘‘ he has no bride—no love. Yes, yes—I do love him—JI ever will, in spite of all, though I may never meet him on earth.” ‘* Be calm, dearest, be calm, God is merciful.” ‘“Sweet girl, you comfort me. All is not ruin while there isa God. Yes, Iwill be calm. Let us not speak of Victor Joselyn; it is torture that I cannot endure. When you know all, your heart will bleed for me. ‘‘When I returned from Saratoga, my heart. tinged every thought with joy, and I looked forward to every succeed- ing week, almost, for my husband to come and. claim me. I had no thought that the secret marriage would not be known for more than a month or two. Alicia Joselyn was thought to be recovering, and I expected Victor by each steamer. ‘‘ But you came home, and the secret was still unrevealed. How often I longed to confide to you the hidden sweetness of my life; but for the sake of my husband I resolved to guard the secret, lest 1t might be misunderstood. ‘* Do you remember the first day you ever saw Cecil Beau- mont? That day brought the burden of my life. ‘“‘T told you before that he had made my acquaint- ance at Saratoga; he had paid me attentions since then which I, asthe wife of Victor Joselyn, could not receive; I had already dismissed him, and reminded him of his be- trothed whom he was wronging. He was furiously jealous of Mr. Joselyn, until I had told him what I had told Miss Cranstown once, that Mr. Joselyn was already married; I feared the consequences of his mad jealousy. I thought he had returned to Miss Meredith, until the evening in which he once more presented himself in the drawing-room. ‘“When you retired I asked him gently to explain his presence. “<< You deceived me,’ he burg out; ‘ vou informed me that the English lover was married. I have made inquiries, and find you have deceived me!’ ‘‘T was both affrighted and indignant. ‘<* How dare you question my word?’ I asked. ‘I again repeat that Victor Joselyn is married. Bethat as it may, he is not to be mentioned again. As for you, I demand by CORNUCG OOO S (©)