Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

52 ANGELINAS OR, tern, it having been his intentio nwhen he left the cottage to bave explored the adjacent wood. He ascended the rocky emineace on which the gothic Abbey stvod, and finding nothing to obstruct him, he entered its dreary and desolated hall. The owl screeched dismally, as though disputing the right of any person to intrude upon a place of which he had long been the undisturbed occupant. The pavement was covered with the broken fragments of the crumbling ruins, and Mr. Woodfield was obliged to proceed with caution, for fear he should hart himself ; suddenly, however, he was startled by hearing a noise as of some per- son appreaching, and, directly afterwards, an authoritative voice exclaimed :— ‘‘ Who comes this way, and for what purpose do you wander in these dreary ruins at this hour of the night 2” Before Mr. Woodfield replied, he held the lantern above his head, and its light fell upon the tall figure of the mysterious woman of the rains. “Ah!” ejaculated she, when she recognised him, *‘Mr. Woodfield 2—I know why you come, but it is too late I am afraid; even now the unfortunate damsel of whom you come in search, is being borne away by wretches wha would not shrink from perpetrating any crime however monstrous. I sought to save her, but my arm failed in its purpose, although it was well directed.” ‘Good God! can this be true ?"? cried Mr. Woodfield in a tone which fully expressed his consternation. ‘‘ Think you I would tell you false ?" demanded the woman, in'a tone of dignity ; “‘ follow me, for there is not a moment to be lost.” ‘¢ And who are you, mysterious woman,” said Mr. Woodfield, * who appear to take go deep an interest in the fate of a girl who is an entire stranger ta you 2%. " $A stranger to we,” repeated the woman with an ironical smile, ‘ ob little do you know how well Iam acquainted with Angelina, But it is not q time to talk on such a subject, come, come, this way.’’ Trembling with anxfety at the probable fate of his niece, and a thousand times blaming her for having acted in disobedience to the warnings he had so frequently given her, Mr. Woodfield followed the woman, who bounded over the fragments of stones with which the Hall was strewn, with an agility that astonished him, and descending the rock at the back, paused at the base. “ Open the lantern,”’ she cried. Mr, Woodfield obeyed, and a flood of light streaming upon the earth, the corpse of the ruffian, Dare Devil Will, met his gaze. ‘66 What means this ?? he demanded, with astonishment ; ‘* who has done this }” 467." replied the woman, “ and could bat my arm have accomplished its purpose, Angelina would have been rescued from their power.” ‘¢‘ Merciful powers!" ejaculated Mr. Woodfield, ‘* what ig to be done ?— Tell me, I beg, have you any suspicion by whom these wretches were em- loyed 2?” ~ “47 have 3” was the answer, “nay, 80 positive am I, that I could almost venz {ure to take an oath that my surmises are correct,” ° - “ 6 Whom then do you suspect ?” impatiently asked Mr. Woodfield. ** The Baron de Morton.” *¢ Impossible! the baron is away from his castle; besides, what motive could induce him to such an outrage ?” ¢ Have you not before had a specimen of what he- is capable of doing 2?” oh- COMIC OOOlKS.€O