Beautiful Rienzi; or, The secret vendetta — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

54 BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. I ran to Miss Meredith’s room without ceremony, and found that she had not retired. ‘¢ What can have happened to Isolina?” I burst forth. ‘TI thought she was home two hours ago, and when I arrive, I find her absent still! Where can she be?” ‘*Where can she be?” repeated the girl, with a ringing laugh. ‘Don’t you know? Can’t you guess?” ‘« For the love of Heaven!” I said, gravely, ‘tell me if you, have any idea where she is, Where did you see her ast?” “Ttis rather hard to ask me that question,” she returned, with another taunting langh; ‘‘ but I will tell you. In the arms of my betrothed!” ‘< Explain,” I said, swallowing my feelings. ‘““How am I to explain. Such treachery is beyond my power toexplain. You, as well as I, saw himcarry her away in his arms.” ‘©And have you not seen her since?” ‘* Not I, my dear Miss Ivanilla; nor will you for a while, I fancy. Do notsit up to-night, I beg. They have given us all the slip—eloped!” ‘*Impossible!” I exclaimed, indignantly. ‘* My sister did not love him. She would never elope with Cecil Beau- mont.” ‘So she informed you and me, my dear,” said Miss Meredith, bitterly; ‘‘but you see we have been duped. The deception worked very well, and she has got him safe!” ‘*Miss Meredith, I command you to cease these asper- sions on my sister’s integrity,” I exclaimed. ‘‘ You do not know a tithe of what she has suffered for you—ingrate. But I forbear to quarrel. You will not relieve my anxiety, so I will relieve you of my presence.” She came after me and clutched me passionately; her smothered rage broke out. ‘“Why did you not tell me how completely she had in- snared him?” hissed the girl, shaking me. ‘‘ Whether you say itis her fault or not—she stolehim from me! Now, I tell you, her sister, as my message for her when she comes back, that I will never forgive her for the wrong and the humiliation she has made me bear. Let her beware. With all her beauty and her talent, the time may come when her beauty will be only a memory, and her talents CORNUCG OOO S (©)