The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

6 Ly nr a reonpaemannanrnmel 148 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ‘ often too—that whon a young man and a young wo- | claimed the lady, now proffering him her right man have been introduced to each other for the first | hastd, but still. retaining the veil carefully folded time, thero has arsen immediately and at once | over her countenance with tfio left. in their sou) the instinctive feeling that they were; “Madam.” said Dr. Ferney, as he took that destined for each other ?—and this recognition of | proffered hand and pressed, it in his own, which tho ideal that each had formed relative to a fu-'| trembled violently, “I am rejoiced that I have not ture partner for life, has been thus mutual as] | offended you. Jt is not my fault if I have thought simultaneous. “’Tis she *’ murmurs the eecret of you often often—yea, very, very ofton— voice in the soul of the man: “'Zis he” simul-| during the long interval that bis elapsed since last taneously whispers a like mysterious voice in the} we met. Then I was young—and not wrinkled, soul of the female. And thenceforth their des- | nor emaciated, nor care-worn in looks, with herd tiny is accomplished, even as it had been fore-| study and unwearied pursuance of the lights of shadowed ere they had ever mot. Again, when | science, as I am acw! So that you must find me - one man has been introduced for the first time | much altered? Though not many years past the to another, thero has arisen in the sectet depths | prime of life, yet am I prematurely old——But of the heart a sudden feeling of liking or aver- | you,” he suddenly exclaimed, “cannot be so much sion between the two, and the conviction that they | altered as Lam? And yet you conceal your coun- have been predestined to exercise a powerful influ- | tenance! Wherefore do you romain thus closely ence for good or for evil upon each otser. Wel] veilad? But no matter. I see before me that might multiply such gllustrations to an endless | couftenafice as I beheld it in the glory of its beauty amount: they are facts beyond dispute—and what- | nineteen years ago; and if on raising that veil you ever may be the nature of the mysterious essence | were to reveal a face as much marred by the ravages which thus subsiata botween mind and mind, and | of time as mine is, yet should I not behold it as it whatever be the origin of those strange presenti- | may now appear, but as I first saw it and as my regents, their power cannot be denied. Anelagous | memory has,treasured it up.” therewith was'tho presentient knowledge which on| ‘Is it possible,” murmured the lady, cvidently the present. occaff~n made Dr. Ferney aware who | agitated and bewildered, : that you havo thus con- his visitant must bo, even’ before ha: had acquired |tinued to think of me during: this long interval of any positive certitude upon the subject. time?” te Doubtless the lady herself observed the trouble} Dr. Ferney did not immodiately“kaswor the ques- and agitation which thus came over the physician: | tion; but after a long pause, which ‘seemed to be for she at length broke silence by saying, “ Is it | filled with decp and mournful reflections; he said in possible that you already suspect who I am P” a low voice, “I never loved any one save you!” “ Ah, that voice!” ejaculated Dr. Forney: and| “And havo you never once seen me—ror even for nearly a minute he seemed overpowered by the | fancied that you have seen me, since we parted at emotions which those flute-like sounds excited still | your mother’s residence ninateen years ago” asked moore strongly and vividly within him. — | the lady: and through the deep folds of the veil her Slowly did the lady speak again; and now she | eyes apemed to shine brightly as they were fixcd said, “Yes, Dr. Ferney—I am that same Mrs. | with keenest scrutiny upon the countenanco of the Smith who lodged with your mothor nineteen years | physician. __ | | ; ago, and who—— But I need say no more to recall! “No—not once,” answered Dr. Ferney. “Do myself to your memory.’® | you. reside in London? or have you occasionally “No, no—for I had not forgotten you! i¢ was | visited fhe métropolis?. But pardon me—I was impossible I could have forgotten you!” exclaimed | wrong to ask those questions. Hrom the past I am tho phygician, with a singular vehemencé, “Nine-| well aware that circumstances of mystery attend tecn yoars have passed, you say? Yes--I know it | upon you—thqugh: heaven knows that sooner than —I have caloulated those years. with perhaps a | breathe a word from my lips. calculated to do you greater exactitude than yourself. But patdon me,” | an injury, I would lay down my life to render yous | he observed, suddenly interrupting himself$ “you| service!" ts _ | | inust think that J am talking strangely?” = ~ | “Generous-hearted man!” exclaimed the lady,’ Tho lady did indeed think so: at. all ‘events she | once more proffering him her hand. “ Little did I was astonished to hear him’speak in those fervid | expect auch a reception! Methought that my accents, and give ufterance to such words, the rea-'| image must have long years ago passed out of your son and meaning of which however she could not | memory, and that though perhaps you niight now faibto understand. . For at the far back date which | and then think’ of ose circumstance which you had been mentioned—namely, nineteen years ago— | cannot very: well. have forgotten, yet thay it was she had been aware tlias Ferney loved her: she | regarded aga mere straw floating upon the great knew at the time that he was the ‘object of his an-.| ocean of the past, and withont importance or powet thusiastic adoration: but she could ‘not possibly | sufficient to add one alogle ripple te your pathway suppose that this love of his had survived. the | over the waters of life’ lapse of Vime, and that at the expiration of eolonga| “Not so—not.eo,” responded Dr. Ferney, as he period she should hear him speak and behold him pressed the ‘lady's hand ‘hetween both his own. look in a manner which ‘indicated that the flame of | “The feeling that. experienced for you when you his passion bed not been extinguished within | dwelt so maty years: beck beneath. my mother’s him. | roof—that mother who is. long since. dead—bas “You do not answer me,” he eaid after «| never faded away from my heart. I may fell you bricf pause. “Is it possible that I have offended | thie now, because I am ah old man and my words ye | can have little inftuence upon you or your desti- ~ Mo, no: how could you give mo offence?” ex- | nies.” oe ooo ECOMMICOOOKS.EO