Beautiful Rienzi; or, The Secret Vendetta — page 144: what you’re looking at

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

BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. 137 a suitably retired country place for us to resort to, recom- mended a certain obscure village on the Atlantic shore, whose charms of scenery, bracing air and retirement, he said, would fulfill our wishes admirably. This place, which was designated Ranelagh. and which was so very obscure that my father said he had never heard of it, was the destination for which we purposed starting immediately. On the morning of the day in which we intended to leave the city | went out to arrange my business as “ Soldiers Friend,” and to leave my poor people in charge of No. 10, if she would undertake them. But Miss Cranstown not being at home when I called, I left a message with the lady president for her, and went to see the poor young widow, Mrs. Harrison, who had now set up a milliner’s shop in a quiet little street, and seemed to be prospering tolerably well. I carried to her the photographs, letter, and identifier of her unfortunate brother, which she received with sad thankfulness. She had now sustained the double loss of husband and brother, all who protected her. No wonder that her eyes streamed with tears as she bent over her or- phaned boy! ‘‘ And he reminds me of them both!” she sobbed. ‘‘ He has poor Leander’s pretty curly head, and it sets so jaunty on his shoulders—just like him! sut oh! he has _ his father’s very eves! My wee babe, you never saw your father —oh, no—no!” Mrs. Harrison told me that Mr. Speingle had come two days and talked with her for hours about her brother, ask- ing the strangest questions. She also showed me two golden dollars, which the kind old gentleman had put in baby’s hand, and, with tears of gratitude, said he had promised to see that the child got a good education if he lived. As I walked home (having some purchases to make I did not ride), I saw a handsome carriage at the door of a hotel, and at the moment in which I passed, a lady tripped down the marble flight of steps, and for the time blocked my fur- _ ther progress by her trailing skirts. on I drew back with flushing cheeks, when the lady, turn- ing her head, disclosed the haughty face of Lillia Mere- dith. : ‘‘T am surprised,” she said, looking at me from head te Gomichoo iS (E€(0)