Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERY OF ST. MARK'S ABBRY. 43 CHAPTER XI. Ancevtna with the utmost confusion and astonishment, endeavoured to withdraw her hand from the stranger’s ardent grasp, and her beauteous coun- (enance was deeply suffused with blushes; while he retained his hold with gentle violence, and after a brief pause, he ejacalated in tones of the most impassioned fondness, and so sweet, that they imparted an irresistible sensa- tion of delight to her bosom, while she listened to them :— ‘* Beauteous girl, pardon the boldness of one who is a complete stranger to you, but who feels that he could worship you, even as a being of the other warld Yes, fairest Angelina, from the first moment my eyes beheld you, my heart be- came devoted to you ; but fearing that my love would not meet witha returh, I tried to stifle it initsinfancy. Vain effort !—every day it grew stronger ; I could not help cherishing the recollection of your lovely features in my mind; you were the object of my thoughts both day and night; in the day- tine you followed me as my shadow, and at night fond visions presented you to my imagination in all the bright effulgence of your beauty. You hecame indeed a part of my thoughts, a very portion of myself; and, made presump- tuous by the impetuosity of my love, I detetermined to seek an interview with you, to divulge my thoughts, and—”’ ‘¢Sir,”’ interrupted the blushing damsel, whom surprise had hitherto rendered silent, ‘‘nnhand me, I beg; this language, and froma stranger, I must not listen to. Let me go, sir, and by your forbearance, prove to me that you are worthy of my forgiveness fur the liberty you have taken.”’ } ‘¢ Fair damsel,’? exclaimed the young man, rising and bowing gracefully to Angelina, “ [ feel indeed that I deserve your rebuke, but may I not hopo,— oh, tell me, may I not—”’ At that instant, Angelina was alarmed by hearipg the sound of approach- ing footsteps. She looked imploringly at the stranger, he bowed his head in obedience to her wishes, and he had scarcely time to bound over the palings into the field, when Laura was seen coming along the path. Just then, the trembling maiden casting her eyes towards the earth, beheld a smal! miniature in a golden frame, lying on the spot whereon the stranger had stood, and which he had doubtless dropped. With trembling haste sho picked it up, and had only just succeeded in concealing it in her bosom, when her cousin approached het. ‘* My dearest cousin, here you are then, moping by yourself as usual ;"’ said Laura, ** well, I declare, you are the dullest creature I ever knew, and if it were not that you are at the same time the kindest hearted soul in existence, I should absolutely be out of temper with you. But, bless my soul, how pale you look, my dear ; why, what in the name of wonder is the matter with you ?” ‘Nothing, nothing,’ faultered our heroine, with evident confusion, ‘‘ [— I—it is rather sultry, and I felt faint, that’s all.” . ‘¢ Sultry,” returned Laura, “ why, dear me, I feel quite chilly, and I’m sure the air is very cold. You certainly are a mysterious girl, Angelina, and any one would suppose you were in love.” Angelina blushed deeply, but made no answer. ‘© Nay, my dear cousin,” said Laura, “ you need not blush, love is not such ~~ / JOO Go