The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 293: what you’re looking at

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

/ to his horse; and then the whole party set off at a full gallop. ‘The sun was sinking behind the western hills when this occurrence took pl ice. [idegardo been absent from his castle for several hours; and Lady Emilia was gradually becoming alarmed. I endea- vored to console her, although | myself was somewhat astonished that my lord did not return; and my misgivings in- creased when I ascertained upon in- quiry that he had ridden forth alone. I trembled lest some accident should have befallen him; and as the night deepen- ed I could scarcely conceal my appre- hensions from Emilia, much less sooth her own. Hour after hour passed ;— midnight came, and still the baron came not. His affectionate wife was half distracted, and I could say nothing to console her. At length, towards one o’clock, we heard a steed gallop with thundering din over the drawbridge which had been left lowered in expec- tation of my lord’s return; andina few moments the horse’s hoofs clattered with equal rapidity upon the stones of the court-yard. Wildly, with mingled joy and terror, did the Lady Emilia | a horrible rush precipitately down from the apart- ment where we were seated, to receive her husband, for we both felt convinced | ‘Inatone of fondness, that penetrated it must be he; and I followed her lady- ship, but at a less headlong rate. On the threshold she met the baron. But, holy God, what an aspect did he wear! His countenance was ghastly pale, his eyes were fixed with the olaring eXx- pression of horror, his plumed cap had fallen off, his hair was streaming wild- ly, and his disordered garments were all speckled with the foam flung from the mouth of the gallant steed which had evidently been ridden at a frantic pace. ‘Emilia gave vent to an ejaculation of thrilling anguish as her husband, throw- ing himself from that panting steed, thus encountered her; instant all the pent-up horror which filled the unhappy young lord’s breast, burst forth in a terrible moan,—and he sank senseless at her feet.’ CHAPTER LXXIII. CONTINUATION OF BERNARD'S HISTORY. ‘The resident physician was instan- | taneously summoned; and he ordered Already had the Baron of | but at the same | QR ATT > 4h STATUE. 291 the baron to be conveyed to his cham- ber, divested of his clothing, and put to bed. ‘This was done; and his lord- ship still continuing insensible, the phy- siclan was compelled to administer the most powerful restoratives. These succeeded in re-animating him; but he -awoke from his stupor only to rave in a delirium. A composing draught was poured down his throat; and under the influence of the opiate he gradually be- came tranquillised, until he sank off in- to a profound slumber. When he open- ed his eyes again, the fever had left,— but he started up and glanced wildly around, as if in dread of encounte ring some terrible object. When, however, he recognised where he was and per- ceived the well-known face that was bending over him, his soul seemed to drink in the sunny smiles that shone upon his awakening sight, his appre- hensions disappeared, and the gladness of an unspeakable relief suffused itself rapidly over his countenance. Catch- ing the beauteous creature in his arms, he strained her to his breast, while she bestowed upon him the tenderest ca- resses ; and he murmared in her ears, ‘OE malin. dearest Emiha, | have had most horrible dream !’ ‘'Pranquillize your thoughts, my well beloved,” she hastened to respond like a soothing balm in unto the very depths of his soul. ‘*See! you are be- neath your own roof, in the care of her who adores you and would die for you, and with the blessed sun shining grand- ly upon the world. You have there- fore no cause for apprehension, my dearest husband ; nor must you ponder upon aught that harrowed your feelings during the darkness of the night.” ‘And while she was thus speaking, the gentle Emilia drew back the heavy drape ry from the windows, and the gol- den flood of sunlight was poured into the apartment. ‘++ Yes, the splendor of the orb of day is indeed cheering to the mind that in imagination has passed through a night of horror,’ said the Baron of I[lde- gardo. ‘*Come, my beloved Emilia, seat thyself by my bed-side, and I will unbosom my soul to thee; for thou art too affectionate as a wife, and too strong- | minded as a woman, to permit me to |} keep any secrets from thee. Besides, there is one incident in my life which concerns thee, my Emilia, inasmuch as it relates to our expected first-born ; and it is this incident which engendered the REE a —_ comicbooks.com ~ * - ~ ee £2 - <a ena amo, " e > ‘Z 2¢ - * * 4 he tate 6 ne eS x, ’ > aw - & #» lt . k = —-—s ~~ "s ><. _ P +. - Pn é 2 all a = -? » - — * FS. de 4 -* ye : ..* ¢ > & 7 2 -* ee ee oe oe 2 er ae 2 . ss : * = - = eS eee ee ° é = te. al . > > * * ke ‘ ite i ee | i ec + te “) ’ “#? * ‘ . 7 ‘ ~— 2%. <a F