The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

———— — <a + THE BRONZE STATUE. 125 firmness as if he had made up his mind to perform a duty that was imperious though painful. The same appearance of decision was manifested in his step ; and altogether there was about him an air of seriousness and deep thought such as we have not seen him assume pidity of a fleeting spirit,’ observed De Colmar, feeling that her hand trembled in his own; ‘ and until I had complete- ly reviewed all that passed between us on that occasion, I was fearful of having given you some offence, though heaven knows it would have been most unin- tentional indeed /’ ‘Offence—oh! no—far from that!’ before. | On passing out of the city gate, Sir| Ernest de Colmar entered a verdant grove which stretched for a short dis- tance between the high road and the neighboring river Moldau, and the shade exclaimed Gloria, suddenly raising her eyes and darting upon his countenance a luminous look full of passion and in- eflable feeling. ‘ Let us seat ourselves of which proved an agreeable relief! in this cool shade and upon the flowery from the scorching sultriness of the| bank, andI will explain as concisely as noon-day sun. Threading the little wood, the Knight reached the bank of the river, which there ran broad and deep, and the mar- | gin of which was covered with flowers. Beautiful was inanimate nature there, | with a luxuriant wilderness of sweets, with the grove shining beneath the powerful light of that sun which belong- ed to the month of fruits, and with the transparent stream taking its azure hue possible a few circumstances which some strange and unaccountable influ- ence prompts me to reveal, although perhaps it were more consistent with maidonly pride and delicacy to retain them profoundly secret in my own bo- som. Thus speaking, the heavenly being sate down on the sloping bank; and as De Colmar followed her example, plac- ing himself by her side, the glance from the over-arching sky. which he threw upon her evinced the But not long was Sir Ernest de Col-| amazement, amounting even to trouble mar enabled to contemplate the peace-| and agitation, which her words had ex- ful loveliness of the scene; for a light | cited in his mind; for no one could ac- footstep fell upon his ear, the adjacent | cuse him of vanity or presumption if foliage opened, and the Daughter of | the idea flashed to his imagination that Glory beamed upon him with all the | those words, so singular and yet so sig- transcendant radiance of her sunny be- | nificant, could herald only a softer and ing! Yes, radiant and dazzling was she | more tender discourse. in spite of a certain air of modest reserve,| ‘ Your acquaintance, Sir Knight, with amounting almost to a bashful timidy, | Satanais and myself,’ resumed Gloria, which now deepened the roseate hue of | keeping her eyes bent downward as she her cheeks: but the lustre of her eyes, | thus spoke in a low and tremulous tone, those magnificent eyes which shone| has been but of short duration; and with the very essence of the sun’s most| yet in that brief interval you have overwhelming power, imparted a lumi-| heard and seen enough of us both to nous appearance to her entire counten- ance, while the flood of golden hair that: rolled in heavy masses upon her should- | ‘wondrous narrative of our birth; the ers and floated down her back 1n undu- lating richness, caught the sunbeams through the foliage and seemed to shed a brightness around the shady spot. Extending her hand to De Colmar, but casting down her eyes, the divine creature said in a tone that was low and tremulous, ‘Deem not my conduct in- | delicate, Sir Knight, in having thus ven- tured to solicit an interview; but || thought, I funcied, [ even hoped,’ she continued hesitatingly, ‘ that you would be desirous to receive some explanation . od " from my lips to account for the abrupt- ness with which I left you the. other day upon the southern rampart of the city.’ ‘You disappeared, lady, with the ra- | 'make you aware that we are not like the generality of our sex. My sister has revealed to your ears the wild and terrible and romantic tale of our destiny —and you are, therefore, at no loss to ‘account for any singularity of manner, any peculiarity of feeling, or any eccen- tricity of character which may distin- guish either or both of us. Our posi- tion in this world has hitherto been and continues to be one which places us beyond the ordinary conventionalities and the rigid forms which govern the community at large, and our sex In par- ticular. Our minds have been model- led in a school and shaped by an expe- rience such as no other women on earth ‘have ever known; and neither should | our sentiments nor our actions be judg- ed and appreciated according to the ge- > Pa — > er’ es —_—* Ss ea eS oo ~ea< rk re ae es -* A St a tee | rT ,.* —,s =—] @ « on, A we * a i. ee s « * Fe Be oe «a ‘ ~y Pd -’ > - ~~ See . . to | ae, . 7 »" > a oS partes was a? — er he ~ - f Sees _—. \ ee ——_-* » “* - Fee Re see ~ « “ » =. << « a a 7 “4% - *. w Pa >"> - on” “i . ow 5 —_— < we 2 ‘ < «* Oo . 7 comicbooks.com