Beautiful Rienzi; or, The secret vendetta — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

94 BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. He stopped, overcome by his own recital, and bowed his face in his hands; silver hairs were glistening among his dark locks, and these added dignity to his sorrow. I drew near and knelt beside him, and we mingled our tears together. “She repulsed me completely,” he continued, sternly conquering his emotion, and retired to her chamber to avoid me. ‘I could not believe that she actually shunned me, and I followed to the door, for one more appeal. “«¢Taina, my darling girl,’ I said, scarcely able to keep these tears from unmanning me, ‘come to your old father’s arms, and tell him who has tampered with your happiness.’ ‘‘She fixed on me a look of sudden and wild reproach. “<< Tt was you, she exclaimed, ‘and this is retribution!’ ‘««¢ What do you mean, dearest?’ I asked, gently. ‘She became as white as a slab of marble, and clasped her hands together. “«<¥ cannot speak,’ she whispered, - and if you command me, [I will go away and never return.’ ‘“‘T saw that she was in earnest, and I urged her no longer. She threw herself on the bed and turned her head from me as a signal that she wished to be alone. I yearned for one word from her to show that her heart was not alienated from me, as her words implied, and I bent fondly over her. «¢* T have been guilty of many errors,’ I said, ‘ but never one which could bring woe to wife or child. Kiss me in token that love is not lost between us.’ She only buried her face in the pillow and waved me away, while a fit of trembling seized her. ‘«* You are ill,’ exclaimed, ‘shall I send for your sister?’ «« « No—I want rest,’ she said, choking with her emotions; ‘let Sophie come to me!’ _ ‘‘] was forced to go, worse than unsuccessful, and that is all.” ‘‘Oh, father, what dreadful plot against her life and our happiness this must be?’ I sighed. | We had not conferred five minutes longer ,when Sophie’s pallid face looked in at the door. ‘‘T wish you would come up-stairs,” she said, looking at me, ‘‘there’ssomething the matter with Miss Rienzi.” “What?” cried my father, starting to his feet; ‘is she ill?” | CORNUCG OOO S (©)