Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

AGNES; OR, SRA MED Piesiren. 3 #g, 1, ole » uried &. iter," solouring with petty, Lory Jitosby send Mire 1's Venice imtigenitn™ ao Bel Jamies whether persons pendonged ecm @ions of mingled.y:.se and joy, why i getitiga thes toditeade !—~ Bat per wire of that Gelf rapturomi nalf affecting eh Moats Se temo P* apa Sey earths 'that cannot i described. “e 7" ™ ¥ou—ysal” oried EN Rav, with feverish exvite- | When the eetemony was concluded, a gaat; “it is ‘a mistake! I ought not to have bridal party bad returned to the hotel, el apuken ‘tuflely! | I wished to pay my respects to a sion of the most lovely Florentine dameaia bel dad 9—-Fleribel——Fiora Lovel—or—or—I know not ing to the widdle class, appeared tare her panie now-——” bouquets of flowers to the ‘bride and bridegroqm: “Tf you bea friend or acquaintance, siguor,” for the romance which belonged to the .magny answered St. Didier, “at least tell me your name.” thrilling adventures through which our hero “Well, then, it is Hardress. And now——" . passed, had excited the liveliest interest not merery “Signor,” interrupted St. Didier sternly—for on his own aceount, but -likewies on that of he instantaneously recollected how he bimeelf had | the beauteous being who had juet plighted” td been instrumental in procuring Heotor’s arrest at | him her vows at the altar. And thus it was an Turin at Floribel's instigation ; “the lady to whom | ovation of the most interesting and touching You allude cannot wish to see you, and will not character which followed the nuptials of Charleg, receive you. I command you to quit this apart- | and Agnes. ment.” Aud when, in 2 few days afterwards, the “* By heeven, I will see Floribel, if only for an | happy pair returned to their eplendid domain, instant!” exclaimed Hardress. “ She shall decide | with what enthwsinstic joy wae the bridal party betwixt you and me! ‘You area rival—and per- greeted by the tenantry as well as by all the in- dition take mo if I bring not matters toa crisia!” | habitants of the town of Osmerino and the néigh- “ Madmen !” cried St. Didier, “ retire !” bourhood! Triumphal arches were erected — “ Attempt nut to ber my way!” vociferated bands of music were playing—fowers were strown Hardress. “Stand aside! By-heaven I will pase | Wpon the road—the masicipal corporation pre- on! Stand aside, I command you!” sented congratulatory addresees—and if it were an * Keep back, medmen !” ejaculated St. Didior. | ovatiqn at Florence which had greeted the youth- “ Depart !—or if you provoke me-——” ‘fal pair, i¢ wee now @ perfect triumph, thrilling . “Stand aside! Ab, you'will not !” thundered: and affecting, which weloomod the Coant and Hector. “Then take that!” | Countess of Camerino to their home. He drew forth a pistol; and it waswith a § It was not until some woeke afterwards that the sudden cry of terror that St. Didier sprang aside intelligence of Floribel’s tragic fate reached the as the infuriate young man levelled it at him. Camerino mansion: and then it was brought by At that very same instant, as the pistol exploded, the faithful and afflicted Antonis, who was almost the door at the extremity leading from the passage, | heartbroken at the loss of her beloved miatress. opened—and with a piercing shriek Floribel! Agnes wept for her cousin's death ; but the incident dropped apon the threshold. 'was only a transient cloud passing over the “ Wretvh |” vociferated St. Didier ; “ you have | heaven of that happiness which our haroine was killed her!”—~and springing forward, he raised now destined to enjoy. As for Antonia, another her in hisarms. “Dead! dead!” were the ejacu- | situation was procured for her through the good lations that burst forth, accompanied by the mcurn- offices of the Coumt and Oountess: sho soon fullest ory, from the Sardinian’s lips. ‘afterwards attracted the notice of a young tradee- Hector [ardress atood transfixed, with ghastliest | man of steady habits and good property—they were horror, for some moments, gasing upon the ‘ married—and Antonia has made a much better tragedy: but suddenly starting as if galvanised, he | wife than might be expected of one whu had drew furth his second pistol—placed the muzzle eerved such mistresses as Lucresia di Mirano and in his moutb—aud as the report again echoed Filoribe) Lister. through the apartment, he fell a corpse upon | It is precisely this aame remark which we have the fivor, now to make iu respect to Lisetta,—who having after a while succeeded in persdading the some. what giddy aod soft-brained Andrew Haites to make her “an honest woman,” proved by her con- duct that if she had been indistreet at one periad of CHAPTER LXXIIL | her existence, she had principle and firmness suf- | ficient to enable her to falfil with an unexception- GOROLUSION, = § ‘able propriety all the duties of a wife. | In due course the Countess of Oamerino re- A HAPPY day was that on which the young Count ; ceived a communication from her who bad recently pf Camerino conducted the beauteows Agnes to the ' borne in the world the sounding title of Countess altar in fire chape] of the British Embassy at | of Milazzo, but who had almost completely hidden Fiorence. Never bad our young bero looked more | her identity under the humble appellation of Sister mminently handsome !-——never had our heroine ap- | Misericordia. And the Countess of Camerino peated more exquisitely lovely! The charming never visits the city of Sienna without calligg to Leura and Mirtitia Germini acted as bridesmaids, | see her friend the recluse; but it was not until the Rdgar Marceltiv, with his pretty and beloved wife ‘death of Sister Agonia, which occurred ubout a Curinna—Sir Alexander and Lady Holcroft~-as | twelvemonth back, that the secret transpired of | well ae the British and the French Ambassadors, how she who was ones the brilliw.t Princess of the Marquis of Ortona, Signor Palmas, and a few Spartivento, bad ‘also been secluded in the same} ther faithfal friends, were amongst the bridal’ convent, COMmicoooks C©