The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 369: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRONZE STATUE. 367 ests prompt you to expedite at once ?’|me to converse with you for a few mi- asked Angela; and without even wait- | nutes.’ ing for a reply, she hurriedly quitted | Angela obeyed ; but a blush appeared the turret chamber. upon her cheeks and her heart palpita- This readiness to oblige, this charm- ted audibly to her own ears, as she mar- ing and unaffected promptitude in fulfil- | velled within herself upon what topic ing his wishes, made a deep impression | the knight was about to address her. te ie ae ee xi 7 i “ e™ A A Fa ong — ~—e* “ - ==. a so» Genel a » : ‘ PO EF ty ee ee) Pl ree ew re 4 oe! + eee oe ty awe ~ o ‘yt ay — - — ss upon Sir Ernest de Colmar. moment did he fancy that he loved An- gela, nor did he believe that the image of Satanais could ever be entirely ef- faced from his soul; but he experienced towards the forest maiden a boundless gratitude for the numerous services she had rendered him—an immense sympa- thy for that gentle heart whose secret love for himself he had discovered, and a profound friendship amounting to a brotherly tenderness, which would Not fora} ‘ Dearest friend and well-beloved sis- ter.’ resumed De Colmar, ‘| did not fail to notice that the information which sernard gave us yesterday moruing re- lative to the beleaguerment of Alten- 'dorf Castle, troubled thee strangely. Now I seek not to penetrate into thy /private thoughts, but if there be any /point on which | can counsel thee | Permit me to ask your excellency a | question,’ said Angela, hastily interrupt- ‘ing the invalid. ‘Suppose that there prompt him to do everything in his|were secret means of communication power to ensure the felicity of Angela, and make even large personal sacrifices sooner than allow tears to flow from those sweet blue eyes, or care to seize upon that lovely bosom as its home, In a quarter of an hour one of De Colmar’s grooms entered the turret- chamber. Angela remained outside, leaning over the parapet of the mighty donjon, and contemplating the lovely moon which was advancing in silent majesty over the far-off hills. For upwards of twenty minutes did the groom remain with his master ; and, on coming forth, he descended straight to that portion of the ruins where the horses were stabled. Hav- ing saddled his steed and said farewell to his comrade, he rode forth from the dilapidated remains of [ldegardo Castle, and soon reached the grand highway leading towards Vienna. Meantime Angela had returned to the knight’s chamber, and she was rejoiced to observe that his mind now appeared ithat therefore they have drawn their much easier since he had despatched | |ines all round the stronghold and close Bf his dependant upon a secret mission to the Austrian capital. Slamber soon revisited his eyes; and when she was assured that her patient slept, the fo- rest maiden spread a cloak upon the floor and lay down to snatch a short in- terval of repose. De Colmar awoke in the morning considerably refreshed. His physical energies were so far restored that he conld raise himself without difficulty in the bed; and he partook with appetite of the repast which Angela had pre- pared for him. When it was conclud- ed, he said to the maiden, ‘Sit down by my side, sweet sister, and permit! with Altendorf Castle; suppose like- wise that the entrance to this private avenue was outside the moat: indeed, at some considerable distance from the interior of the stronghold itself, would it be possible for a bold and adventurous person to pass the lines of the besieg- ing force and penetrate into the forta- lice ? of the T'aborite army before the walls of Altendorf: and therefore do I seek this information at your hands.’ ‘Sweet Angela,’ responded the knight, any individual, however daring and have mentioned. up to its very walls.’ ‘Ah! it is, then, as I feared,’ ob- served Angela, suffering a long and slow exclamation to escape her lips, ac- companied with a sigh, as if she had just received the death-blow to a hope previously entertained and yet even then commingled with alarm. ‘Is it possible, heroic maiden,’ ex- claimed De Colmar, ‘that you purposed to introduce yourself into Altendorf Castle, with a view of carrying succor to some one whose condition there ap- peals to your sympathies and invokes your interest ?” ‘Such is the case,’ replied Angela. Your excellency’s knowledge of military matters must doubtless lead you to judge of the probable position after a few moment’s consideration, ‘I should say that it were impossible for courageous, to accomplish the task you From the intelligence which we yesterday received from Ber- nard’s lips, it is clear that the T'aborites are pressing hard upon the garrison ; that they are relying on famine to aid them in the reduction of the castle, and As FS « - ." . aa ~. » ry * ~ - i Pa ~ oe earns “7224. 2 ; Py ¥) HS ~ ae ~~ gi + ~ i ~~ a! be $i —_—~—"4 Gin * ~~ ~~ . * ‘Tt i? of rad + i 14 f Ny : - > . _ vr? * soe . —— £ onal Sn I x wo = s » Pr st = <— - ? o - ™ ce — Pte « és - o ¢ -~ » 2 ~ all . a > - a4. - _ ue " Se PNET iS a, wad “y= 7 . * all - *» om, ~~ rs s ae P= > =e é ‘ te Me 4 yee: ao ~. oF - x , <= —— ~ A = '? aS oo +a | a ~ ley en _~ - . o> ~ —— «, + ah = . ee ae ee = 7 _— + ae ee 2 Art hk a ~ A _ -~ - ~ 2 oA gears ~ r ’ s ~.- — | —_—— ¢ ~ ‘ al re ot a ae OE "pron oe é a a < * i ~*~ ~ - ee wegen eee —-, “v - » “~~, ~ ~ 7 a” comicbooks.com