The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

~~ THE BRONZE STATUE. 2} maidens in attendance, so was this grim jon your left hand ere you venture to ad- warrior waited upon by two T'aborite sol- | dress your conversation to her. She is diers, who appeared to watch with eager- | beautiful, you perceive, and can be as ness for the slightest sign that he should | agreeable as she is lovely,’ added the ‘Tabo- make, as if it were an adored and wor- | rite chief, suffering his features to relax for shipped master whom they were thus zea-| a moment into a grim smile: then, after 2 lous to obey. | few instants’ pause, during which Sir Er- Such was the group of ‘individuals re- | nest de Colmar had made a low bow to the clining neglig¢ ntly upon the grass in front | lady, who returned it with a grac: fel inchi- of the principal pavilion, and ‘nto whose | nation of the head, Zitzka observed, * i may yresence Sir Ernest de Colmar was intro- |as well inform your Excellency that she is duced in the manner already mentioned. | no relation of mine—ner 1s she even a na- In the one-eyed warrior he had no difficulty | tive of my own Sohemia. But lt love her in recognising the formidable and enthu- |as ifshe were my own child: she is to me siastic Zitzka; but who that female sc |as a daughter; and there is not a man m grandly beautiful might be, he had yet to | my army who would hesitate to face even learn. the most horrible of deaths for her sake.’ Having surveyed the Knight with great | ‘ You doubtless come, lady, from a far-off attention for a few moments, an expression i'clime, said Sir Ernest—‘ a clime as sunny of mingled surprise and pleasure began to | as the light which your looks diffuse appear upon 7itzka’s countenance; but. around 2” instantly checking that amiable relaxation | 6 Yes; the land of my birth is where the all of his features, he said, ‘ Who art thou, | gorgeous Last decks its favorites with gems | good stranger ©’ land pearls, and gold,’ answered the splen- But the eyes of the Knight were fixed | did creature, in a voice of such rich and with admiration and amazement upon the | flowing melody, that it poured like an charming creature whose exquisite form leestatic flood of heavenly music in unto the was half-reclining in so gracefully volup- ivery depths of his ravished soul. ‘ From tuous an attitude upon the soft herbage |the proudest monarchs that ever swayed and when the Taborite chief repeated his |that oriential sceptre which is so magnifi- question somewhat sharply, Sir Ernest de | cent in its barbarism, and from the loveliest Colmar turned towards him with a sudden | race of houris that ever blest the earth with start, as if abruptly awakened from the charms appropriate only to the realms of midst of a delicious dream. paradise —from these amI descended! And ‘Who art thou, stranger?’ demanded | would’st thou know my name, Sir Knight?’ Zitzka, fixing his bright black eye search- demanded this being, as singular as she ingly on our hero’s features. | was beautiful—as mysteriously romantic as Sir Ernest mentioned his name and rank, | she was supernaturally lovely: then, fixing adding that he was a native of Austria, and|upon him all the power of those eyes, engaged in the service of the Sovereign which, in their velvet blackness, concen- Prince of that Duchy. trated the burning, dazzling, overwhelming” ‘] pray thee, be seated, Sir Knight,’ light of a myriad Jamps, she said, with ap said Zitzka, in a mild and even respectful | almost wild significancy, ° My name is Sa- tone: then, turning towards his two com- | tanais.’ panions, he exclaimed, ‘ Arnold, Heinrich, Sir Ernest de Colmar started, as this bestir yourselves, and bring refreshments ‘name, so ominous and terrible, struck his hither. See, too, thata flask of wine be noi | ear: but, instantly recovering himself, he wanting.’ ‘observed with a smile, ‘I have a sufhcient The men sprang to their feet and has- }acquaintance with the Mohammedan creed tened into the pavilion; while Sir Ernest |—having borne my part in battle against de Colmar placed himself on the green | the Turks—to know that the name which sward between the grim Taborite chief | you have mentioned, charming lady, means and the lovely dark-skinned woman, whose |‘ Zhe Child of Satan.’ But it can scarcely eyes had scanned him rapidly but search- | belong to you; for were your personal ap- ingly from head to foot: and, ere those | pearance to suggest your name, it should be bright looks were withdrawn, they had lin- |" The Daughter of an Angel.’ gered with satisfaction, fora moment,upon| ~ [ thank you for the compliment, Sir his handsome, frank, and noble counte-| Knight, said the lady, ina grave tone; nance. ‘and as she cast down her eyes at the same ‘There is amongst us,’ said Zitzka, * but | moment that she spoke, it seemed to De little of that ceremony which prevails in ‘Colmar as if a powerful light, hitherto courtly circies and lordly halls; and it 1s, streaming upon his countenance, were sud- therefore, unnecessary for you, Sir Knight, | deuly withdrawn. ‘ Nevertheless, she to await a formal introduction to that lady | added, at the expiration of a few momenisy > —————$_ ——E —— mee comicbooks.com