Beautiful Rienzi; or, The secret vendetta — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

BEAUTIFUL RIENZLI. 11 smiling lips spoke not but by caresses ; the fire glanced out and rouged the tender cheek and brought the amber hair into flame-like halos, and she looked like some gorgeous fire-spirit, and like the spirit, her sc 1 was beyond my reach. Yet I was loving her more and more; my heart of pas- sion was surging to its depths. I shall love that bright vision with its fair face of supreme beauty and its halo of fire-bronzed hair, forever! ‘These days with my beautiful sister were the happiest of my life. * * * * * * * On the last day of October we sat together at the win- dow of the drawing-room, looking down into the busy street. tet arm was around me, and I was leaning against her chair. As gayly I spoke to her, the hand I toyed with closed vehemently; she bent forward, and her face was hidden from me, but her dainty ear flamed up a sudden scarlet. ‘“Ah, ha!’ I cried, with sportive triumph, ‘‘ who thus moves my beautiful lady’s heart? Is the conqueror com- ing?” She turned as I jested. I had thought her animated by joy, but this seemed no joy. Her blue eyes were dark and stern, her brow inflexible; the flush was not of pleasure, but of anger. ‘¢My sweet one!” I exclaimed, “‘what has grieved you? Tell me, my sister.” She did not answer. She drew me forward and kissed my brow. It was a hasty, eager kiss; then she advanced to the door as if to fly, and shrank back when her hand was on the lock. The door opened; aname was announced bh; the servant, which I failed to catch, and a gentleman entered. Dazzled by the glory of the clouds I had been watching, T could not discern at first the visitor’s face. I saw him seize her hand and bend to kiss it. I saw her draw it from him, and tower before him a moment in inflexible silence; then she turned to me, and the golden sunlight fell on her face, which was troubled and distressed. ‘‘T beg your pardon!” exclaimed the gentleman, in a CORNUCG OOO S (©)