Beautiful Rienzi; or, The secret vendetta — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

70 BEAUTIFUL RIENZI. “You need not fear for her,” I said, as soothingly as I could; ‘the ‘Friends’ look after the widows, and see that the pension comes to them. I will personally look after Mrs. Harrison until her brother can be found, and if we are unsuccessful in finding him, our , Society will provide for your wife according to her wants.” The poor fellow thanked me with his swimming eyes. ‘It’s a load gone from my mind then,” hesaid, ‘‘and I’ll not worry any more. Madam”—he dropped his voice to a whisper—“ there’s enough money in that savings bank to bury me; it has been kindly given from time to time by the Soldiers’ Friends.” «Don’t save that—it was for food and medicine,” I re- plied, ‘and don’t trouble about the other; 16 will all be at- tended to.” ‘‘ Heaven bless your tender face, miss,” was the grateful reply. ey I have nothing left to wish for. And will you be pleased to give Friend No. 10 my very best respects and grateful thanks for her great kindness to me and my wife ever since she found us out—if she don’t come herself in time?” { promised, and the wasted face sank back with a satis- fied expression. ‘’hen I read some holy words of peace to him, and took down the illuminated text which Miss Crans- town had hung on the foot of his bed, replacing it by a new one; and after that I was ready to go. ‘Madam, will you let me kiss your hand?” said the young soldier; “‘I haven’t a grip left.” I bent over him with tear-bedewed eyes, and gave the poor boon. Then I went over to the window to give a few words of comfort to the wife. Poor young creature, slow tears were dropping one by one on her hands, as they deftiy flew over the dainty satin slipper. Lucy expressed her gratitude and thanks for the timely aid the Soldiers’ Friends had supplied, but I no longer watched her flying fingers, or listened with mney rele atten- tion. Looking down, through the high narrow. windows, to see what view this family enjoved from their elevated position, my eyes encountered the roofs and chimneys of gloomy houses, and far below a walled court, where women were walking back and forward, dressed in dark blue gowns. CORNUCG OOO S (©)