The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 362: what you’re looking at

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

—— eer + if Tt abies Hi ‘ | ‘ry. ‘r . ae site 360 THE BRONZE STATUE. Pm tte! ia artless, bashful, unsophiscated Angela; ‘The venerable Bernard has 80 ef- $ = Sear - — ~ => ee ee : o< “ — SS 7- —_ —s re aearaeaeEerrr ee te Ae. Al ~ met lage ple et PN " > - ~~ Las . oe Pe Dole a ”.. he - Wildon, and the romantic, incompre- | fectually studied the nature and uses of hensible, and designing Gloria Ildegardo. | herbs during his long solitary residence ‘Tell me, fair maiden,’ at length said | in this tower,’ replied Angela, * that he the knight, as he perceived that the | was not at a oss how to prescribe for earnest intentness of his look called up | your excellency.’ a fresh glow of erimson to her cheeks ‘And for six weeks, Angela, you —_a flush which deepened while it| have been my nurse—is it not so?’ said brightened the beauty of her soft, melt- | De Colmar, in a tone that was tremu- ing, soul-speaking eyes; ‘tell me, fair | lous with unutterable feelings. maiden, how long I have been chained | +7 have fulfilled that Christian duty to this couch?’ ‘with cheerfulness,’ was the maiden’s ‘Six weeks have elapsed since the | timid and hesitating reply. ‘ But, God beginning of your excellency’s indispo- | be thanked!’ she exclaimed, in a sud- sition,’ responded Angela, her lips giv-|den and irresistible access of enthusi- ing utterance to the words with a visi-|astic gratitude towards heaven, * you ble hesitation, inasmuch as she feared | are now beyond the reach of danger— the effect which the announcement was | the crisis has passed—convalescence is calculated to produce upon the invalid. | approaching, and may the Almighty ‘Six weeks!’ he repeated, almost|speedily restore your excellency to galvanised by the sudden excitement | health and happiness !’ which Angela had dreaded. ‘Isit pos-| As the maiden thus spoke, her eyes sible that for six weeks I have lain un-| beamed with the softness of love and conscious of life—dead, in fact, to all| the lustre of pious devotion; and again and everything did the invalid warrior gaze upon her ‘Oh! tranquillise yourself, I implore | with those mingled feelings which ap- rou!’ interrupted Angela, looking down | peared the unknown inspirations of a with so holy an earnestness upon his | sentiment such as he had never expe- countenance, and that earnestness min- | rienced nor even suspected before. gled with so tender and unfeigned an| ‘You have been my nurse for six interest, that the gentle sway of woman | weeks, Angela,’ he said, in a tone pro- as a ministering angel was immediately | foundly moved ; ‘ and during that peri- recognised. 'od I have been more than once at the ‘You are my nurse—my sister—my | point of death? Well, then, ’tis you guardian spirit—my friend, Angela, he | who have saved my life Oh! I can said, raising his arm with some difficul- | understand full well how devoted were culty and extending his hand towards|the ministerings, how unwearied the her, ‘and I will obey you in all things. | attention, and how constant the care of But tell me once again, is it possible| which I have been the object! But that [ have been ill for six long weeks?’ | you shall be rewarded, Angela; yes, ‘It is true—alas! it is true,’ mur- | you shall be rewarded, young maiden,’ mured Angela, unable to restrain her | exclaimed the knight, a sudden flush tears; for she remembered how near | rising upon his pallid countenance as if unto Death’s door had the object of her | his soul glowed within him at the con- love—her hopeless Jove—been hurried | sciousness of possessing the means to more than once by alternate intervals |deal forth recompense with a liberal of violent fever and utter prostration. | hand; and the good Bernard shall have ‘Oh! you weep, you weep for me!’ | countless blessings showered upon lum. exclaimed De Colmar; and the forest- | For it is in my power to raise you, An- maiden felt his tremulous fingers gently | gela, from a humble condition to a grade press her own. ‘Then I have been|which you will embellish and adorn; ill, very ill?’ he demanded, with that} while that faithful adherent of the nervous anxiety and suspense which | ruined race of Ildegardo shall at least showed in an instant that it would be | be settled in easy and affluent circum- imprudent to evade or delay the expla- | stances for the remainder of his days.’ nation so earnestly sought. | *O God! do not excite yourself, I ‘Yes, your excellency has been very | implore you!’ exclaimed Angela, now ill,’ said Angela, withdrawing her hand. | regarding De Colmar with a singular ” = . > | . . ‘Indeed, your life was despaired OF | oxpromns of mingled terror and an- more than once ‘guish; for the unsophisticated maiden ‘And who has been my physician ?’ naturally fancied that the invalid was he demanded ; ‘for I need not inquire | raving, and that, forgetful of his posi- who has acted as my nurse.’ ‘tion as a humble knight, he was assam- comicbooks.com