Beautiful Rienzi; or, The Secret Vendetta — page 286: what you’re looking at

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

BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. 279 know it if ever we meet at that Bar where you say God is— “uf ever.’ My life shall be an eternal secret until then. ‘‘Go to your grave with the pangs Gemma Lancinetto has given you, and say, haughty ingrate, have I not promised you life? If you had never seen Donna Gemma in her beauty, would your hair have been so gray, your step as lag- ging on life’s thorny way? ‘“ Yes, I have sped my vendetta—my sweet, sweet ven- geance! ‘“Guiseppe, these lines are for you, when your victorious enemy sleeps in her bed of earth. GEMMA.” — '~ Such was the singular letter which came to my father from the dead woman, and it cleared him forever from all blame but such as gilded his character with new laurels, while it threw into the blackest shades the unholy pas- — - sions which had wagered a life-long war in that poor heart of dust. CHAPTER XXXVII. A BRIDE WITH ANGEL’S WINGS. ** From belt to belt of crimson seas Our leagues of color streaming far To where in yonder orient star A hundred spirits whisper ‘ Peace.’’’—TEnnyson. For the last time I open these pages, and inscribe the closing scenes of my beloved memories. I would not have that Secret Vendetta unsped, for a_ blessing was hidden in the hand of hate. Come and look with me once more on ‘I'he Beautiful Rienzi ”—a last look, reader. She is a bride for the second time. This is the evening — of her second wedding-day. You see the golden circlet gleaming on the silver-pale hand. It catches the eye of some one near—her husband. He takes her hand—’twill never vanish from his heart until the cold hand of death clasps it. He holds it in his close, close clasp, and lifts it to his lips. ; « You will stay with me a little while—my wife?” wistfully. Her pure face flushed deeply. Her eyes dwelt on his 4 y oO . [] a 2”, v Eomicbooks.com