Beautiful Rienzi; or, The secret vendetta — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

112 BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. She fondly kissed me, and surveyed me with a long, lov- ing scrutiny. ‘‘ You are a winsome sight to a mother’s eyes,” she said; “keep that smile, and these br ight, brave eyes, and rl always love to look at Ivanilla.” It was to my mother that first I confided the strange ap- pearance which I beheld on the wharf. She listened—and she might well be excused for it—as if I were crazed; but she did not attempt to combat my improbable belief. She pondered over the incident a long time, then she rose with asigh, and stood. looking at me with troubled eyes. ‘Tscarcely like to speak of what may have no existence,” she said; “‘ but I have a strong impression that some strange plot has been formed to ruin the happiness of the family, beginning, first of all, by ruining Isolina. If young Beau- mont were really alive, it seems very much like a concerted plot to cheat the authorities into condemning your sister as a criminal. This shall certainly be told your father and Mr. Speingle, and the affair sifted to the bottom. And mean- time, my child, lay down the case which has been on your shoulders, and leave it to us who are able to cope with it— be it your duty to soothe the unknown sorrows of your hap- less sister, and we will do the rest. ‘“Mamma, what enemy have we—who would seek to harm us?” ‘*T do not know, Ivanilla.” OG Cer CHAPTER XV. ON TRIAL. “ Are you called forth from outa world of men To slay the innocent? What is my offense? Where is the evidence that does accuse me?”’ Kina Ricuarp ITI. Carefully as my mother had been prepared, it was a seri- ous shock to her to meet Isolina. The ravages of grief and illness were great to me—they were stupefying to one who had not seen her since the days of her girlish loveliness and exuberant charms. Yet she betrayed little of her feelings to the weak invalid, but concealed them with the heroism which COMICOOO S (©)