The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

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My ee : ‘Strange and romantic is te life which you lead, charming lady,’ said the Knight. ‘The emerald forests are your home—the wild flowers decorate the carpet of verdure | ‘ Your Exellency honors me by these as- surances,’ observed Satanais, evidently con- towards the| fused and not knowing what response 1 make. BRE: ‘The pbrase is a cold one: ejaculated De Colmar. *‘ButI have no right to expect aught from your lips save the ceremonial ‘ : . - . ? | words of a mere passing acquaintanceship, he added, in a tone almost of vexation. / ‘1% Pestyay . ‘Would you ask the frienasnip of a sa ‘ . ' . i i . strangve—mvsterious--incomprehensible be- a = , i "9 ing such as I must appear in yout eyes’ which nature spreads for your feet—and | said the dark beauty, ina voice that trembied the birds make you the most delicious music.’ | ‘ Yes—oh! yes—strange and romantic is ais!’ | greatly. y . » »« | ‘Yes—give me your friendsh p, Satan- exclaimed the Knight: * whoever you the life which I Jead,” exclaimed Satanais, | may be—give me your friendship—and call ; . : . Ave Ae ’ her melodious voice sounding inexpressibly | me by the name of * friend! sweet with the inflections of her enthusi- | ‘Receive, then, the assurance of my astic tone: ‘strange and romantic has my friendship,’ murmured the lady. life been from the cradle—strange and ro- | maotie will it continue until the tomb.’ ¢ But you are happy, lady—you are hap | py—are you not -” asked De Colinar, ex- | | prize !’ ' with an ineffable joy. ‘?Iis a boon which I shall prize—dearly said de Colmar, his heart thrilling ‘But when 1s it pro- bable that we shall meet again?’ he de- periencing a profound and increasing inter- manded, in an altered and far less raptu- est in this being of such woudrous beauty | rous tone. | ‘Who is entirely happy ia this world, Sir Knight?) murmured Satanais, throwing upon him a strange and even wila look with those eyes of transcendent brilliancy. ‘Believe me, dear lady—believe me when [ assure you, that it will afflict me severely if I thought that you were unhap- py, said Sir ernest de Colmar, forgetting | that he had only been acquainted with Sa-_ tanais for a few hours, and feeling for her all the affectionate interest of a brother— or perhaps something more} ‘Is it possib’e that your Excellency can feign so ardent anenthusiasm when paying a compliment?’ asked Satanais, now fixing her glorious eyes upon his countenance as if to read in his looks the real meaning of his words. ‘By heavens! you wrong me in suppos- ing that I am capable of playing the hy 0- | crite towards you!’ exclaimed the Knight, with a tone and manner which left no doubt as to his sincerity. ‘Then how happens it that you can have experienced any interest in my welfare, in| *) so short atime ?’ inquired Satanais, bending down her head, and speaking in a tone that had suddenly become low, timid, and tre- mulous. ‘Is it possible to know you for an hour without feeling for you the friendship of an ka at this crisis came up. ‘same instant, too, the party emerged from entire life!’ said Sir Ernest de Colmar, al- soin a subdued tone. Think you, dear la- ‘dy, that I leave the Taborite encampment ‘I shall be at Prague on the first of Au- gust,’ answered Satanais, apparently not daring to look him in the face—but rather averting her head: ‘and at nine o'clock in the evening of that day you may see me for a few moments in the palace gardens, which are open to the public.’ As Satanais uttered these words, the ap- pointment which Gloria had given him, for the same day, but for an earlier hour and in ‘another part of the city of Prague, flashed to the recollection of the startled Knight: and in the confusion, shame, and bewilder- ment which now overwhelmed him all ina moment, fortunate for him was it that Zitz- Almost at the the wood into the road, where the ‘l’aborite chiefiain’s grooms were waiting with the three horses in readiness. Exerting a powerful effort to regain his composure and throw off the embarrass- ment which had seized so painfully upon him, the Knight took a friendly leave of Zitzka, and then turned to bid farewell to Satanais, He felt her hand tremble as he held it in his own—and under the influence of a fas- cination which he could not resist he preés- sedit gently. It seemed to him that the pressure was returned—and at the same in- stant the large, lustrous, magnificent eyes of Satanais threw upon him a look which said as eloquently as woman’s glance ever spoke, ‘Remember the appointment which without regret ?—do you imagine that {shall | I have given thee "’ COMICDOOKS:-COlMm