The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

98 THE BRONZE STATUE. ~ em —- = ts - -- : . _ —— ~ ay io > S . a a . _- * ~— =~ s s - ~* ~~ > . + oe ~ . 2 — ~ inn 4 i 7 7.) . ~3 - a = i By _ a - ee - . o me ~ -* Aw” vy ~ ~ a % - ~ es . es « - —s = ~~ a = * ~ - ° —— ad ms - - =. o~ — ” — ~ - o« = es ee —_ ‘Hush! lady,’ exclaimed the old;The lives of three nobles are to sav- steward; ‘speak not an unnecessary | ed, and heaven must prompt you! OW, to word! There are lives to be saved,’ he|act, [ cannot: but should then fate added, fixing his looks with a peculiar | appear inevitable,” added. the bef: r , significancy upon the Carmelite ; ‘ and Lady, her tone now asst ming 80 Me ro saved they must be, even at the sacri- and profound an earnestness, that the fice of that secret which otherwise would | feelings of the maiden were even tense- be maintained to the end. But I have | ly strained as she listened; ‘ should all already declared that these means are | the plans which you mY eae a ef- | only to be adopted as a last resource, fect their release prove inefiectual, 1en, and when every other project, device, /as a last resource, seek an haga? or stratagem shall have failed. In a with John Zitzka, the ape ae word, the expedient must be adopted |of the Taborite army ; throw yourse when not another arrow is left in the|at his leet show him this ring—and quiver of Hope.’ eave the'restto God? ‘ Yes, it shall be as you advise, ho-| Thus speaking, the White Lady drew nest Hubert!’ said the White Lady.—| from her bosom a little velvet bag simi- ¢ And now it remains for me to instruct | lar to that which Angela wore suspend- this dear girl how to proceed,’ she ad-|ed to her own neck; and, drawing ded, turning towards Angela. forth a plain ring set with a single dia- ‘I have gathered enough, lady,’ ob- | mond which glistened in the moonlight, served the maiden, who had listened in|she placed it upon the maiden’s fin- speechless amazement to this conversa- | ger. Bi « tion, which so nearly though so myste-} ‘And now one word more, said the riously concerned herself, but whom, White Lady, in a tone which the un- circumstances had already so fully train-|conquerable emotions that swelled ed to place an illimitable and blind con- within her rendered almost inaudible. / + ~: -o- . ger ~~ & ewe ees oa ee a-oe & ~~ = - | . a —— - 2 4 a 425 - = La _ ~ 7. a” —— > 4 * 7 = — . s . . é _ ~ ee - eS me % —~¥ * 7 ~! * = : ~ - , . ~ + _ * —_— Pe —— f = - 5 ~ - te Seay He teas eee ; 7 P~ — >< - — P - - — . ~ = - - - : = —s = . a = A — - = - = + ~ i - # : ‘ 4 “J : s - > ~ ome a « « = - ~ — = « Ae = +. SSS eS == — Ps - - a, + ; sd ™ ia = (9 ~ ~ _ = > = - -- ere a ee = ae ~~. = - A Oe cy ea ~ ; . ’ = —-< le lel * . i o 3 r a; = = * =z = OS eee oo ee ee - - fidence in the Carmelite ; ‘I have ga- | ‘Should it be necessary to seek the pre- thered enough, lady, to make me aware | sence of the mighty ZAitzka and invoke that a grand and difficult task is about to | him by the magic influence of that ring be assigned to me ; but I shall not shrink | to spare the lives of the nobles whose from undertaking it! For the incidents | names have already met your ears, then, of this night have been so many, so| Angela, and only then, are you absolved varied, and so marvellous, that they ap-| from the oath which you ere now took pear as if forming the introduction to a/| regarding myself; and to every ques- new phase in iny destiny ; and I accept| tion that the ‘T’aborite chieftain shalh from Providence the lot which He may | put to you, may you respond frankly, have marked out for me to pursue ! truly, and unreservedly.’ ‘Spoken like a heroine!’ exclaimed| ‘Your instructions, lady, shall be Hubert, his countenance lighting up|obeyed to the very letter,’ exclaimed with an unfeigned satisfaction. Angela, now considering herself to be ‘Or rather say like a noble-hearted, | entrusted with a mission the solemn generous, and strong-minded woman,’ | character of which was enhanced by , observed the White Lady. ‘Angela,’|the profound mystery that enshrouded she continued, in a more solemn tone, | it. ‘you must lose no time in taking leave ‘Farewell, then, dearest girl, fare- of your adopted parents and setting out| well!’ said the White Lady, straining for Prague. This steed is yours, and |the maiden to her bosom in an embrace here is a purse of gold to bear your ex-|of passionate fervor; then, suddenly ypenses. But remember, my dear child, tearing herself away, she plunged into that in explaining to Wildon and his|the depths of the forest. wife the reasons which compel you to But as she thus precipitately retreat- fly from the persecution of Lord Ko-| ed, her sobs were wafted on the) wing dolp, you must speak of Hubert as the | of the breeze to the ears of Angela, a- good friend who has assisted you this| down whose cheeks the pearly tears night to escape from the castle, and who | were raining, for it seemed as if she has furnished you with the means of|had just parted with her best and dear- © seeking safety in the far-off metropolis. | est friend. To me you have sworn not to allude, and Hubert assisted her to mount the I am well assured that nothing willlead| good steed which was pawing the you to forfeit that solemn pledge. On| ground impatiently ; and still retaining reaching Prague, my dear Angela, you |the maiden’s hand in his own for nearly will have no easy task to enter upon. |a minute, he said ina voice tremulous —— — ~_ ~~ 23 i rs ha =_— ~ + ¥ > a ‘ —T Me —“~ — =o = Sie at 4 ~ x a. - eg ty ger th ~ fh t} af ' i) : : ul | : - * ———— a 4 . —— : ms = ys * ‘ : — Pe Pre 6S a ~— % comicbooks.com