The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

if and the ways of extravagance, when sudden! appeared in my path, clothed with all the bright- ness and the sweetness of a guardian angel. I loved you—you loved me in return; and it was that delicious love of your's which made me an has been one of purity and honour; and I can look the world in the face without being conscious of aught to raise up a blush to my cheeks. It was you who did this, Eliza—you who saved me! How much therefore do I owe you!—with what grateful recollections is my love intertwined ! Think you, then, that a love which is s0 blended with gratitude, can easily endure disappointment ? ¥o, Ehsza—no. You are dearer to me than life; ond to-morrow, when we separate, it will be for me like parting from that very life iteelf!” “© Bertram, what can I say—what can I do, to comfort you?’ murmured the almost heart- broken Elisa, as the tears rained down her cheeks and her bosom was convulsed with sobs. “ What can you do—what can you say, Elisa? Nathing, nothing! There is but one thing——— No, no—I dare not mention it: I will not entice you from your husband! But to leave you with him, is to condemn myself to a life of horror—or ‘else to cut it short and perish in the blood of a distracted suicide !” “ Bertram,” shricked Elisa wildly ; “ recall those dreadful words. Ob, recall them, I implore you! For my sake—for all the love I bear you--— “Oh, to hear you speak thus of your love,” cried the impetuous and impassioned Bertram, “ie the revival of joy ineffable !"—and obedient to the impulse of the moment, he caught Eliza in his arms—he strained her to his breast. At that instant «cry so wild and savage that it resembled that of a ferocious hyena, smote on the ears of Bertram and the Duchess; and start- ing from each other’s embrace, they flung their terrified looks around. Those looks encountered the Duke, who was just emerging from a shady avenue. ing !—no, he was rushing on with the mad fury of the wild beast whose cry his own had reeembled; and Eliza, with a half stifled moan of soul-crushed agony, dropped senseless upon the ground. All in an instant the spectacle ef the rabidly advancing Duke vanished from Bertram’s gaze: he beheld only the inanimate form of the beloved Elisa. Hoe raised her in his arms: kneel. ing upon the ground, he supported her against his breast: he hesought her in passionate.accents to open her eyes and to look upon him. “Leave her, sir!” thundered the voice of the Duke : “leave hey, air! hence, execrable villain that you are !” “Hear me, uncle—hear me, I conjure you!” exclaimed Vivian, ~ prey to such wild and tor- turing ‘feelings as no pen can describe. “If not for my sake, at least for her’s———” “ Begone, sir!” again thundered forth the Duke : and rushing forward, he violently tore the still jnanimate form of his wife from Bertram’s arms. At this instant it heppened that two of the tram, in a voice of most imploring agony, as he caught the Duke by the arm. “ Not a word, sir—not a word!” vocife- rated the furious husband : in his mad rage he struck his nephew a violent blow upon the temple. The young man’s countenance became crimeon, —~turming all m a moment from the whiteness of a sheet to the hue of a peony; and his first im- pttise was to avenge the blow. But not more quickly flashes the lightning through the air, than did the recollection glance in unto Bertram’s mind that i¢ was his uncle—a much older man than himself—who had thus struck him: and turning abruptly away, he rushed madly along the avenue. At the extremity thereof he encountered his brother, Lord Clandon. “ Bertram! for heaven’s sake what is the matter ?*’ exelaimed Hugh, with an air of amase- ment at his brother’s fearfully excited looks and frenzied pace. “Hugh,” cried Bertram, stopping suddenly short, and addressing Lord Clandon in broken sentences; “something terrible has happened— terrible, terrible! Our uncle believes that Elisa is guilty For God's sake go to him! assure him that on the oath of one who never yet was convicted of falsehood, she is innocent! Dearest, dearest brother, save poor Eliza—save her, for God’s sake !—no matter what may happen to me !”? “ But what has ocourred, Bertram? Tell me! speak '——-You know that I will do anything I can to serve you-——” “The tale is too long to tell,” hastily responded the younger brother ; “ and every moment is pre- clous—precious as life iteslf! Go quick—see the Duke—swear to him that , his wife is innocent! Go, Hugh—go, I beseech you !” * But where can I see you again?” asked Lord Clandon quickly. “It is evident that you are in a state of excitement——”’ “See mo P” ejaculated Bertram, as if for a mo- ment scarcely comprehending the question. “ Yes, yes—I must see you again—I must receive the as- surance that the Duke is satisfied! Where shall we meet? I dare not return——Come to me presently at the village-tavern : I will await you there.” “ Be it 00,” rejoined Clandon rapidly. “I will do my best :”"—and he hurried towards the man- frenzied, distracted course in the direction of the village about a mile distant. (SOL (C DOO Col