The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 281: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 279 Insensibility followed, from loss of blood , cried the younger girl, receiving a sud- and perhaps the sudden fright; venerable-looking old man was present to take charge of her and bear her away from the scene of the conflict.’ ‘But where is our beloved mistress ?’ exclaimed Linda, casting round looks with all the wildness of poignant suspense and excruciating terror. ‘Whither have they borne her?’ de- manded Beatrice, also sweeping her eyes all about the place, until her shud- dering looks recoiled from the ghastly features of the dead bodies which lay at a little distance. ‘ By the entrance into yon tower the old man disappear with his inani- mate burthen,’ said Angela, pointing in the direction to which she alluded. ‘‘Thanks, kind stranger,’ exclaimed Linda; and away she sped towards the tower, followed by Beatrice. ‘Ah! here are drops of blood upon the step !’ cried the latter, the moment they reached the foot of the spiral staircase. ‘ Afas! alas! our poor mis- tress . ‘Oh! what perils now surround he cried Linda, clasping her ’ leaning against the wall for support.— view, and did |" ) | ; but a\ den inspiration from the cheering words and maoner of her sister. And the two handmaidens sprang up the spiral staircase with the lightness and speed of fawns. her Return we now to the Daughter of Satan herself. Upon sinking into the arms of the venerable Bernard, she felt as if that faintness which is often the forerunner of death, had suddenly seized upon her, a film came over her eyes, surrounding objects disappeared rapidly from her her senses abandoned her. ‘he old man, who suddenly seemed to have acquired the strength of his ear- lier years in order meet the emer- gency of the occasion, bore his lovely burthen hastily away from the scene of conflict and began the ascent of the spiral staircase with as much ce lerity as his aged limbs could possibly com- mand, and more than they at first ap- peared.capable of exercising. But in a few moments he was com- pelled to halt; and, seating himself on to r!’?|astep with the still inanimate lady in hands toge- |his arms, he proceeded to stanch the ther in the deepest agony of mind, and | blood flowing from her wound. ‘This ‘kind attention he performed with a ‘She is w vounded, the blood is pouring | | piece of fine linen which he took from forth, she is senseless ' ‘And in the hands of a stranger,’ ad- ded Beatrice, a strong shudder convuls- ing her frame. ‘Oh! what will be the result on stanching the blood and wiping | t the gore away from the arm ' way,’ exclaimed Linda. ‘I saw him enter this place the moment after the priest turned and fled from the thresh- old ! ‘By this time, then, Sir Ernest is, perhaps, by her side,’ murmured Bea- 1s raround his own neck; but finding that ‘the crimson tide still streamed coplous- ily from the lacerated flesh, he bandaged the arm with the linen and resumed his task of bearing the Daughter of Satan ‘up the winding staircase. ‘And Sir Ernest de Colmar went this | again ; At the nearest loop-hole he paused and thence he glanced ‘forth to observe what was taking place below. Shudderingly were the old man’s looks thus flung through that aperture, for issuredly did he expect fo behold no- thing less than the complete immolation ; + trice, almost overcome by her increas-;of Sir Ernest de Colmar and Angela ing terrors, ‘and the flowing ot her W ildon. But how indescribable wes blood will inevitably lead to the disco-'|his amazement and how boundless his very of the tremendous truth "’ ‘relief, when he saw the murderous as- ‘Holv Virgin defend us!’ cried Lin- | sailants abe be ‘neath the mighty arm da. -* But insensate girls that we are,’ |of the daunt Austrian and the keen she exclaimed, with a sudden revival of her self possession, * what precious mo- ments we are wasting thus by giving free vent to alarms that may after all prove groundless, but which should at weapon of em spiri ed unknown in the polished armor! ‘The spectacle inspir- ed the old man with renewed ardor,— and, perceiving that the friends of Sa- tanais were sate enough, he concentrat- i} least prompt us to the speedy perform- | ed all his thoughts and anxieties in the ance of our duty! Come, Beatrice, | task of ministering unto the dark houri come, our place is by the side of our | herself. mistress Loiling again ap, the narrow, steep, And who knows but that we may |and winding staircase, Bernard still held reach her in time to anticipate the ap- ‘the unconscious ade! in his arms; and pailing peril that now threatens her?’ !as the length of her swoon filled him comicbooks.com