Beautiful Rienzi; or, The Secret Vendetta — page 218: what you’re looking at

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

BEAUTIFUL RIENZLI. 211 could construe into pity for my misfortune. My beautiful estate and palace halls grew terrible to me; every priceless gem of art reminded me of my father’s fatal love of the beautiful, which had ruinedthe honor of his name. My gentle and lovely sister trembled in my presence; I cast a chill gloom over her, for which I loathed myself; yet when I tried to be my old self the semblance was so unnatural that she grew more terrified -than ever. At last I fell into ill health, and my dearest friend, Doctor Pemberton, or- dered me to travel. J went the grand tour, treading in the very footsteps of my father, and came back as unhappy as ever. Moreso; I was growing fast into a misanthrope. I became almost a monomaniac on thesubject of my humil- — lation. J questioned everything. I began to doubt my own right to the name I bore. Doctor Pemberton became alarmed and once more ordered me away from a scene which only plunged me in misery, this time announcing his determination to accompany me. We came to America, four years after my unhappy grief had come to me, and after wandering through every State, Northand South, just as fancy led us, I at last found what I was in search of, self- forgetfulness. Obeying an idle caprice, L urged my friend to visit Saratoga fora few days, that I might study, with- out mixing in it, the wave of fashionists which ill health and ‘the mode’ sent up from the metropolis. ‘«‘The first time I saw Isolina Rienzi, she, in company with some other young ladies, was on horseback; they ad- vanced toward me like a whirlwind, passed, vanished, and left me standing with my sketch-book in my hand, lost in astonishment. An old groom, apparently their attendant, limped after them on an old nag, which barely sufficed to carry him half a mile behind them. As he passed mel _ accosted him. «<< What ladies are those who have passed ?’ «©«They are Mrs. Cranstown’s party,’ he replied—‘live at the ‘‘ Wood’s Nest.” ’ «He rode away immediately; and I returned to the Con- gress, where I had left Doctor Pemberton. He was preparing for our departure. «©¢Tet us stay another week,’ I cried with more anima- _ tion than I had felt for years; ‘I have seen a face.’ «<*But, my dear boy,’ exclaimed. my friend; ‘it was only yesterday you were sighing fora change! We have been Gomicbooks (G(0)