Ellen Percy; or, The Memoirs of an Actress — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

ate el 36 that very instant a loud double knock at the front door thundered through the house. “For heaven’s sake be silent!’ exclaimed the Colonel; ‘‘be silent? Betray me not! and you shall presently be free !” “ No—this instant !” I exclaimed: “ this instant must I depart! Stand aside, I command you!” “ Never, never will I thus abandon you!’’ cried Bellew: “never will I thus surrender up my con- quest !” His countenance suddenly grew inflamed, as with extended arms he rushed towards me. Another loud, long, rending scream pealed from my lips: Bellew’s arms encircled me—I struggled desperately—shriek after shriek did I send ringing forth. ‘There was the hasty rush of footsteps on the stairs—the door burst open—and as the Colonel suddenly quitted his hold upon me, I sank exhausted and half senseless upon the sofa. Diz- ziness and bewilderment was in my brain: I was only vaguely and dimly aware of some brief pass- ing altercation which ensued. Then the door slammed violently—I started up :—Edwin St.C lair sank upon his knees at my feet. CHAPTER VIII. THE BOX AT THE THEATRE. My joy at this sudden deliverance was so great and bewildering, that I could not immediately find terms wherein to express my gratitude. Forgotten too was the scene of the present incidents: I re- membered not that it was in the sanctity of the chamber where my deliverer thus remained. Ellen,’ he cried, “behold me at your feet! ee ELLEN PERCY; OR, THE MEMOIRS OF AN ACTRESS, ——$—$———— eT ee eed which revealed a splendidly furnished drawing- room. J was scarcely the mistress of my own actions, so much did I indeed feel the necessity of a few minutes’ leisure to regain my self-possession and composure. I entered the drawing-room, and sat down. St. Clair took a seat at a little distance: and he said in the softest tones of his harmonious voice, and with an expression of the tenderest con- cern, in his countenance, “ How did all this happen, Miss Percy ?” I told the tale which is already known to the reader: but I said nothing relative to the strange and terrible fragmentary document which had so much harrowed my feelings in the bed-chamber. In the first place it bore no immediate reference to the explanations which I had to give, and which I was desirous to cut short as much as possible; and in the second place I did not choose to suffer it to be thought that I had with any sentiment of Curiosity peered into the mysteries or details of my prison-house. St. Clair listened with an air of mingled. interest, surprise, and indignation ; and when I had finished, he exclaimed, “ The vil- lain! the heartless villain! I will yet chastise him most terribly for this outrage.” ““Oh, Captain St. Clair,” I said, as the idea of a duel instantaneously flashed to my mind; “I be- seech that you will not on my account bring your- self into any further collision with that bad man. My gratitude " “Oh, Ellen!” he exclaimed, “little, little did I think that Bellew was capable of such wickedness as this! Fortunate indeed was it that in paying a mere visit of friendship, I should have been led to his house at the very instant when my presence was so needful! Conceive my astonishment when on the front door being opened, my ears caught those rending shrieks!—conceive the excitement with which I burst through the midst of the do- Hear me beseech you to bestow one smile—one | mestics who strove to detain me!—and then con- kind look upon him who has had the happiness of ! ceive, if you can, the boundless surprise, the rage, bP] succouring you at a moment “ My heartfelt gratitude is your’s, Captain St. Clair,’ I interrupted him: then suddenly recol- lecting where this appeal on his own behalf was made, the flush of wounded pride, not altogether unmingled with indignation, appeared upon my cheeks; and I said, “ You will have the goodness -—the generosity —at once to retire.” He sprang up to his feet, as if he himself were only at the instant rendered sensible of the fact that he was lingering in a place where he oucht not to be; and my indignation vanishing, I said, “ Await me on tho stairs: I will be with you in a | moment.” He bowed; and the door closed behind him. I drank a draught of cold water; for my throat was parched with the effect of all the excitement which within the last few minutes I had endured; and I hastily readjusted my toilet. My heart was still all in a flutter; and there was still a species of bewildering sensation in my brain. Ina few mo- ments I left the room, and found St. Clair waiting for me on the first landing. “That villain has gone, Miss Percy,” were the words in which he hastened to address me—thus alluding to Colonel Bellew. ‘“ Enter here for a ry minutes, to tranquillize and compose your- self.” the indignation, with which I made the startling discovery that it was you, Hllen—yow whose image has never been absent from my thoughts " “Captain St. Clair,’ I said,—and I felt my cheeks crimsoning as I was suddenly reminded of the impassioned words in which he had addressed me while kneeling at my feet inthe bed-chamber,— “you will see the propriety of my immediate de- parture hence.” “Oh! forgive me, Miss Percy — forgive me, Ellen,” he exclaimed, “if in the excitement of my feelings certain words should have escaped my lips But no language can convey an idea of all I felt when recognising in you the object of that villain’s outrage! Yes—you shall depart hence Yet stay, Ellen! One word—only one word! Nay, look not thus!—it is not of myself I am about to speak it is for your good that I am thinking! You know not the world as well as I; you know not its wickedness! Deeply, deeply does it pain me to have to speak thus on so delicate a subject; but at least, Ellen, you can take counsel from me as if I were a friend—as if I were a brother !” “Ah! now you speak,” I said, “in a way to which I can listen. Proceed, Captain St. Clair; and rest assured that whatsoever good advice you may give me under existing circumstances, will ex- Hie indicated a door which stood open, and | perience all my gratitude.” mm a re ee ee ee eee ae ee a ee ee HS e=Eee CORNICLOOKS ¢€om