The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 182: what you’re looking at

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

_—— > ‘a — os" ree rom as 4, : ~ > — ae == Pa é eS ee a >= - he - —_ an = ; = =~ en ee el on Pee eee * See << __ <a = as a ° . "= ’ , +> eee ‘ au ~ , —) , L380 THE BRONZE STATUE. osity and suspense: for the appearance! which [ have vowed to procure for all of one whom he naturally took to be a page belonging to some chieftain of rank, and the | tegen of the visit being paid at such a late hour, were well ‘Calculated to exc i those te yelings on the part of the noble captain. But the frank, open, and ingenuous coun- tenance of Angela—a countenance too lovely to be otherwise than replete with innocence and candor — inspired the State prisoner with a rapid conviction that a messenger of such agreeable ex- terior never could have been chosen to convey evil intelligence. ‘Who art thou, fair youth?’ he de- manded, perceiving that his visitor la- bored under some embarrassment or re- serve how to explain the object of her presence. ‘T am a friend,’ responded Angela, in alow tone, but speaking in a voice which she endeavored to render as masculine as possible. ‘ But tell me to whom 1 have the honor of addressing myself ?’ ‘The Marquis of Schomberg, fair youth,’ answered the nobleman. ‘ And now may I ask in return who it is that appears to take so kind an interest in my cause, and how you have obtained access to me ?’ ‘Who I am, it matters not, my lord,’ replied Angela hastily: *‘ but lam come to save you from captivity-——’ ‘Ah! this may be a friendly visit,’ interrupted the marquis: ‘and it may be some deeply contrived piece of treachery. If the former, fair youth, thou wilt pardon my suspicions, on the score that thou refusest thy name.’ ‘Well—call me Angelo— Angelo Wildon,’ exclaimed our heroine, con- verting her beautiful feminine Christian name into a masculine appellation.— ‘And now listen to me, my lord, with- out farther interruption. ‘There is but one T'aborite soldier between you and liberty—one man only whom it is ne- cessary to overpower and bind, but not otherwise maltreat,’ she added empha- tically : ‘and now will you consent to follow me away from this place ?’ ‘Most assuredly, good youth,’ an- swered the nobleman, his countenance lighting up with joy—for it was im pos- sible any longer to entertain a suspicion of the sincerity of bis mysterious deli- verer. ‘Pardon meif for a moment— ‘We have no time, my lord, to ex- change mere words of courtes ¥>’ said Angela, firmly but respectfully. ‘It is now necessary that I should prepare your noble companions for that freedom three.’ Thus speaking, the maiden quitted the chamber and entered the one ad- joining, which was occupied by the Baron “of Altendorf. To him she was an utter stranger—she, the humble forest-maiden, who had dared so much to liberate him !—but he was known by sight to her—for she had not lived so long i in the vicinity of Altendorf Castle without having frequently seen the proud lord of the feudal fort: lice. The object of her visit was explained to the Baron in the same terms and /! with as much conciseness as to the Marquis of Schomberg ; and when those two noblemen had been hastily brought together by Angela, she proceeded to the third cell, in which she found the Count ot Rosenberg. ‘My lord,’ she said, wards him at once and without the slightest hesitation—for her acquaint- ance with his kind disposition and affa- ble manners banished all reserve and embarrassment in this instance— my lord, lam here to save you from cap- tivity—you and the other nobles im- prisoned for the same cause ‘Who are you, generous youth ?’ ex- claimed the Count; and as the rays of the lamp which lighted the chamber, fell on the ceuntenance of our heroine, his lordship contemplated those features with an earnestness evincing that they were far from unfamiliar to his memory. ‘Surely I have seen you before? And yet at the moment I cannot recollect—’ ‘lam not aware that your lordship has ever seen me until now,’ observed the young maiden, with difficulty nerv- ing herse slf in such a manner as to sub- due the confusion that threatened to cover her cheeks with blushes: ‘ but my sister has spoken to me of your lordship’s goodness towards her adopted parents ‘What! is it possible that Angela W ildon is your sister, fair youth 2’ ortad the Lord of Kosenberg, now recalling to mind the features of “the forest maid- en. ‘I was not aware that she had any known relatives in the world.’ ‘ Yes, my lord, Iam her brother,’ said our heroine, determined to maintain a seo pened character in orderto suit her warrior garb. ‘My name is Angelo, and | am “te voted to your service. In- deed, I swore to deliver you from cap- tivity, or perish in the attempt.’ ‘Excellent youth, wor thy of socharm- ing a sister!’ cried the good Count do advancing to- comicbooks.com