Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

36 ANGELINA3 OR, expression darted from hie eyes, and he held her arn with a tighter gripe thas before : “ think not tu deceive me. Who and what are you ?” “ Your lordship knows who I am,” answered Angelina, making a powerfal effort to regain her firmness, *‘ lam bat the ntece of as hamble cottager, but who woald not fail were be present, to resent even to you, or were it the Keng hinfeeif, any insult offered to me. Unhand me, my Jord, and fet me pass; this conduct to an unprotected female redounds not to your credit ,” “ Yes, it must be 80!’ exclaimed de Morton, as his agitation increased ; ‘6 the very ‘looks, the expression, the whole demeanour ie the samef They would lay a snare to entrap me, and bring me to disgrace and ignominy, but it shall not be. Girl, either divulge to me the truth, or this dagger shall pierce your heart ?”” } Angelina screamed aloud with terror as the baron drew a dagger from beneath his cloak, and with a look of ferocious determination, held it to her breast, and seemed ready in an instant to fulfil his diabolical threat. At that critical moment, however, when Angelina had given herself up for lust, she heard a rustling from bebind, and as the baron reppated his threat, and raised the dagger in the air, a commanding voice exclaimed, “ Hold villain !"’ and his arm was immediately arrested by a powerful hand. Angelina looked up and recognized in her preserver the tall and noble figure of the young stranger who she had before seen, and who had excited such an unaccountable interest in her bosom. : ‘¢ Unmanly roffian !” he exclaimed, aa he forced the murderous blade from the baron’s hand, and dashed. him from him, “ away with you, or you shall pay dear for this outrage on a defenceless girl.”’ “Ab! who art thou ?” demanded the baron, trembling with rage and disap- _ pointment ; ‘‘ presumptuous varlet, and darest thou to attempt to foil,me in my purpose? But beware, rash fool, you know not the power I possess: dread my vengeance !"” - ‘I despise both you and your empty threats, Baron de Morton,” said the young man scornfally ; ‘* even now, in spite of your boasting, I could, at a signal, place you ina situation that would soon make you repent having aroused my anger. Away with you, proud noble, and bear in mind this caution, dare not, on your life attempt to harm in future this damsel, for know that there are those who can trample your power under foot, who will be ready to fly to her protection.’° The baron paused for a few moments, apparently petrified at the boldness of the young man’s words, and gazed upon him with looks of doubt and appre- hension; then turning a threatening glance upon Angelina, be muttered some incoherent sentehces, and rushed from the spot. ‘¢ Fair damsel,” said the handsome stranger, in tones whose sweetness pene- trated to the heart of our heroine, while he gazed upon her with looks of the most ardent admiration, “how happy I am to think that I should have been the means of rescuing you from the violence of that rufian. Be not alarmed, while E am with you, no harm can happen to you: with your leave I will see you in safety to your home.” With what rapture did Angelina listen to every sentence which fell from the lips of the noble looking stranger, whose features, as he spuke, seemed to be lighted up with double energy, and whose eyes were fixed upon her with an \ COMIC OOOlKS.€O