The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

Oa SSS THE BRONZE STATUE. through the loop-hole gradually took a shape and form, and at ‘length assumed | the appearance of an angelic being. Its | and pressing it warmly. countenance was radiant with Gaieetial | beauty; its garments were of dazzling white, snow-flakes. I felt no terror, on the contrary, a holy ecstacy was excited in my soul. gel spoke in a voice liquid and flowing as a gentle stream; and these words were the words which he uttered— and its wings were shining as. Then methought that the an- | ‘ Heaven releases thee from thy vows, © maiden, and gives thee back thy lhb- erty. For three years hast thou strug- gled with all thine heart and with all thy soul against the feelings which have prompted thee to abandon this cloistral existence; and heaven hath not beheld unmoved this conflict between the flesh and the spirit. thy freedom. Moreover, thy destiny demands that thou should’st ‘be abroad | in the great and busy world; for the eelestial loveliness with whieh thou art endowed, was not bestowed upon thee to be concealed from the view of those whom it may charm and delight. It was given to thee as a blessing to thy- > self, and that it may bless the eyes of |ruptness mar king > ~VOlce The reward is therefore | ee those who worship the Almighty through | his works. ordained that thou shall hestow thy And behold ! thy destiny has | hand upon a hero whose admiration of thee shall whose existence thou shalt render hap- py until the end.”” Having thus spoken, the angelic being vanished suddenly ; and I slept on until the mor ning. But when I was awakened by the ringing of the convent-bell, | remembered my dream ! and onthe following night I fled from the precincts of that monastic gloom in which I had passed three years.’ Again did Gloria pause; and more timid, more affrighted than ever was the loek which she now threw upon the countenance of Sir Ernest de Colmar. He was wrapped in deep and absorb- ing thought; his elbow rested upon his knee, and his hand supported his brow, as he sate in an attitude of profound ab- straction. | Gloria laid her hand gently upon his shoulder; he started, raised his head, turned his eyes quickly towards her, amount to a devotion, and. | member 127 +My God ! no—oh ! no—far from it? exclaimed De Colinar, scizing her hand ‘It is impos- sible that you could offend me, Gloria; [i conjure you not to entertain the thought for a moment! Pardon that air of reserve, of abstraction, which | wore for an instant; [ will explain pre- seutly the nature of my reflections. But in the meantime proceed, dear lady, with your own narrative, for [am indeed profoundly interested therein.’ ‘You remember the aight in the church ?’ said Gloria, a momentary ab- y the harmonious tones modulation of her 4th ‘And now,’ she continued, with- out waiting for a response, ‘ you may to some extent connect a portion of the scene which you then beheld with the explanations | have already given you. L allude to the renunciation of my vows as a votary of heaven! Upon no other incideut of that dreadful night do I at present wish to dwell—save the circum- stance of becoming acquainted with you,’ she added, fixing upon De Colmar a look full of melting tenderness. * And when you lavished upon me the most delicate attentions,’ she continued— +when you declared that you wished to behold me again—when you thanked me with enthusiasm in your tone and with rapture in your manner for con- senting to meet you on the rampart at Prague—and lastly, when you raised my hand to your lips, au strange presen- timent sprang up in my soul. Some days passed,-and we met in Prague ac- cording to appointment. Do you re all that you said upon the oc- and musical | casion 2’ | madness, tor ‘Yes; I blamed my rashness, my having sought that inter- view,’ answered Sir Ernest de Colmar, ‘because, as [ observed to you, it would make me desirous to enjoy the pleasure of another meeting.’ + And when I proposed to leave you— when I wished to tear myself away,’ continued Gloria, ‘you besought me to remain, declaring that although you still repented, yet were you steeped as it were in happiness. And then you addressed me in atone of enthusiasm which recalled to my mind the presen- timent that had struck me on that night oe a —- ————— and perceived that her beauteous coun- | of adventures in the Taborite encamp- tenance wore an e xpression of mingled | ment; and your words, your manner, terror and surprise, as if of frightened | | the whole expression of your counte- innocence. ‘I have offended you,’ tone of deep sadness. she said, in al indicated an admiration nance and @ worship. ‘lhe presentiment w as con- | meied 1; at least, methought so at the comicbooks.com