The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

_—— a ' THE BRONZE STATUE. ol in unto his very soul, as if resolved to read every secret that was harbored there. ‘Lady, you shall hear the truth—the simple truth from my lips, said the Knight. ‘Unable to sleep, I wandered forth into the wood: soon did a solemn strain of music fall upon my ears and alight meet my eyes. | Thus was L led to the church; and, con- ceiving that it was the mere ceremony of a midnight mass—or at all events no secret proceeding—lI entered. Unwilling to at- tract the notice of those present, | passed amid the tombs ‘And thence you beheld all—everything ° exclaimed Gloria, who seemed to tremble with impatience. ‘ But the result—the end —the circumstances which induced you to bring me hither ‘Are narrated in a moment, added Sir Ernest. ‘ You fainted—the lights were ex- tinguished, I cannot tell how—but I rushed forward to your succor. Some man was bearing you away—lI came in contact with him—and the moment my hand encoun- De Colmar: ‘for in the darkness—the con- fusion—the excitement of the scene ‘Oh! yes—it was impossible for you to ascertain who was the man from whose | power you rescued me,’ added Gloria, fin- lishing the senteuce for the Knight. | But those strange and mysterious words | which the tall monk proclaimed in so sono- 'rous a tone 2’ said De Colmar, this portion Kt the scene in the church being now vi- | vidly recalled to his mind and naturally as- sociating itself with one of the marvels ' which he had seen at Altendorf Castle ;— '*canst thou tell me, beauteous lady, what i'meant those words—* The Bronze Statue, and the Virgin's Kiss 2’ ‘Hush!—silence—my God! breathe not those appalling syllables” murmured Glo- ria, ina voice that suddenly became low, thick, hoarse and suffocating; and at the same time she threw herself into De Col- /mar’s arms—clinging to him, startled and | terrified, as a sister clings toa beloved bro- ther, or as a daughter might seek refuge tered your beauteous hair, even in that|from impending danger in the emorace of black darkness where I could see nothing, la father. 4 . . . ry . ’ I knew that it was yours. Then | tore you; ‘Fear not, beauteous lady, that 1 will ger upon me—but Providence frustrated ‘which causes pain or anguish,’ said the his aim. Witha single bow I felled him upon the pavement—and hurrying from the church, I bore you In my arms ‘But that man from whom you thus gen- erously and bravely rescued me,’ interrupt- ed Gioria, in a tone of strange excitement, ¢was he killed by the blow which you dealt him ?” ‘f cannot say, answered the Knight.— ‘°*T was in the dark—l paused not a mo- ment to ascertain the result ‘One question more, exclaimed the young lady: ‘think you that the person who was thus bearing me away, could have been the same tall monk who suddenly ap-_ peared inthe midst of the sacred edifice and uttered those terrible words But, stoppiug short, Gloria shuddered from head to foot with a tremor which was plainly perceptible to De Colmar’s eyes even in that uncertain light. ‘Great heaven! what alarms you now? he exclaimed, seizing one of her fair hands and pressing it between both his own in a reassuring manner. ‘Nothinge—nothing,’ cried Gloria, evi- dently making a powerful effort, which was also a painful one, to conquer the feel- ings of intense horror that had convulsed her entire frame. ‘The question which | asked you—respecting that tall monk, she continued, speaking agitatedly— you have not replied to it.’ ‘And I cannot, sweet lady, answered Knight: *but I pray you to accept the as- surance that so long as | am near you, your |enemies, whoever they may be and whatso- lever their aims, must first deprive me of ‘life ere they shall injure a single hair of your head.’ | The generosity of your conduct towards ime, O brave Austrian warrior: inspires me with feelings of the deepest gratitude,’ Sale | Gloria,— and makes me wish that you were 'my brother,’ she added, after an instant’s | pause, and with a hesitating tremulousness of tone, while, at the same time, she bash- fally withdrew herself from his arms and resumed her seat by his side. ‘ But, just | heaven! she exclaimed, with extraordinary ‘and even startling abruptness of manner— ‘| have been guilty of a deep ingratitude and «an unpardonable forgetfulness in not demanding tidings of the Captain-General —the brave and general Zitzka.’ | Ah! ejaculated the Knight, springing upon his feet: ‘l also had forgotten the Taborite chieftain. But In your sweet company, charming lady, the most prudent land cautious of moitals would lose the | recollection of their vital interests, Alas! 'l fear that it has fared ill with the great ZAitzka ; ‘Oh! let us. hasten to assure ourseives that he is safe—or to succour him if it yet be time!’ exclaimed the lovely Gloria, also starting from her seat, and speaking in @ _ itone of wild and rending ‘apprehension. —_ oe — comicbooks.com gel ae) oh a _ alt. “._ + ’ Re ¢ H — ‘ f Pw 5 an ee ee & - ° »