Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

74 ANGELINA; OR, Might she not, if she could, succeed in getting out of the tower, enlist the sym. pathies of some persons in her favour, who might not only protect her from the power of the Baron de Morton, but also assist her to return to her friends ? ‘Yes, I will make the attempt,” she exclaimed; ** Almighty Father, who knowest how unjustly I am persecuted, to your care and protection I com mit myself.” As she thus spoke, she felt still more assured and prepared to put her design into execution. First of all, she locked the outward door to prevent her being suddenly surprised; and having ascertained that all remained quiet, she pre- pared for her depaiture. The clothes which she had worn when she was brought to the tower, had, fortunately, not been taken away from her, and she proceeded hastily to envelope herself in her cloak and bonnet; and then once more briefly solicitimg the protection of Providence, with a trembling step, she took up the lamp and prepared to leave the room. The door, on the instant she had emerged from the room, was blown to with a loud bang, which made the place re-echo again, and caused the utmost terror in the breast of eur heroine, as she was afraid it would arouse the inmates of the tower, and that her flight would be speedily intercepted. The noise, however, having died away, all was again still as the grave, and Angelina gained more cournge. She now bethought herself which way she should proceed, and held the lamp above her head, but its feeble rays only permitted her to penetrate for a very short distance. She, however, determined to take the same way by which she had been brought into the tower; and, accordingly, she cautiously passed along the gallery, often timidly looking back, as the murmuring of the wind made her imagine that it was the voices of persons in pursuit. She had just reached the end of the gallery, and was about to descend the stairs, when she started with terror, as she thought she heard the closing of a door at the other ends; and, looking towards it, she was almost positive that she saw the glimmering of a light, but in an instant it was gone, and ull remained the same as before. A pprehensive that her flight was discovered, she lent against the bannisters, uncertain how to act, but hearing no further noise, she somewhat regained her composure, and proceeded to descend the stairs, Firat, however, she looked down to be certain that there was no one watching ber. All was safe; so she descended with silent steps, and scarcely dared to breathe, so fearful was she that she might be overheard. She reached the hall, which she traversed with the same caution, and at length she gained the hall door. First, looking fear- fully around her, she tried the various keys attached to the bunch, and, at last, found one which turned in the lock, Her heart throbbed eagerly with hope; but it was soon banished, for the bolts, which:were very heavy, resisted all her efforts to pull them back, and she gave up the attempt in despair. Disappointed, Angelina now stood uncertain which way to act.—She must return to her prison—all hope of her escape was at an end. She sighed heavily as she thought of this, and was about to re-ascend the stairs, when, looking round, she perceived, to the left, a low archway, towards which she hastened. The rays emitted by her lamp shewed her an oaken deor, but fearful that it might open into apartments occupied by some of the family, she placed her ear to the key-hole and listened attentively, but all was quite still; and plac- ing her lamp upon the pavement, she tried the different keys, and at last found one which opened it, The moment the door flew back, a thick cloud ECORRIC OOOKS. EO @