Beautiful Rienzi; or, The secret vendetta — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

52 BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. shall have no longer the delight of being taught how t breath Italian by my little Zerlina! Don Giovanni’s wooing is over.” It was my delight to set those deep blue eyes sparkling, and to call the grave, peculiarly sweet smile to the thonght- ful lips by my daring words or glances. When I had stirred his feelings until I thrilled in the presence of such fascina- tion as I was unable to withstand, I would lightly change my mood to hide my throbbing heart. ‘‘ What does that glance mean?” exclaimed Mr. Lind hurst, meeting my alluring smile with flushing eagerness. ‘Does my little queen retain her subject for some more lessons?” My queenly reply was a laughing nod. ‘““ Nay,” jested he, ‘‘that answer is more than royal—it is god-like. Alexander affected the ,celestial nod of the ods!” ‘*T cannot conquer the world,” I replied, gayly, ‘‘but I should much rather conquer ” My eyes finished the sentence; [allowed him to press my fingers; I defiantly lured him on. While thus I toyed with my awaking heart, a deep sound awoke the sleeping silence of tbe vast city; a slow clanging—-one—two—three—up to twelve. It was mid- night, as a solemn old bell in a church near was informing us. As the last stroke died away, my smiling lips locked— they chilled into colorless marble, and my heart sank with a throe of deathly terror. ‘‘ Heavens!” I gasped, ‘“‘something dreadful has hap- pened!” a What—what?” exclaimed my friend, growing pale as he beheld my mysterious agitation. He anxiously supported me and chafed my icy hands, but I was not faint. ‘<Do you feel better now?” asked my friend. The unaccountable terror was passing off, ieaving, how- ever, a strange impression on my mind that I did wrong to stay at the hall; I was wild with anxiety to be at home. © ‘¢ What has caused this hysteric paroxysm?” whispered my friend, again chafing my hands. Yes! that is what any practical person would call such a mysterious visitation. ‘‘ A hysteric paroxysm,” and they would account for it by preceding fatigue, excitement, and anxiety. COMICOOO S (©)