Graham's Magazine, Vol. XX, No. 1, January 1842Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XX, No. 1, January 1842
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
The whole church was pervaded with a beautiful quiet, such as might
reign in the shadowy dwellings of paradise. Dudley yielded to its
influence, and drew a deep breath, half in awe, half in thankfulness, as
he gently placed the Lady Jane upon one of the steps of the altar, and
sprinkled her pale face with the water which he dipped with his hand
from the baptismal fount. He took off the mantle which she still
unconsciously held tightly about her person, and gathering up the rich
tresses of her hair as they fell upon the marble, made an awkward
attempt to bind them round her head. The poor lady was conscious of his
kindness, but so exhausted that she had no power to thank him. The very
effort to unclose her eyes was an exertion too much for her languid
state, and the soft light which fell over her like a rich sunset seemed
lending beauty to a marble statue, so pale and deathlike were her
features. When Dudley inquired with anxious tenderness after her
welfare, from time to time, she answered him with a faint clasp of the
hand which he took in his, and grateful tears gushed in bright drops
through her closed lashes, and fell, one after another, like jewels upon
the purple velvet beneath her cheek. At last she opened her eyes, a
sweet and tender expression of pleasure came to her face, and one of the
familiar smiles which Dudley loved so well sprang like sunlight to her
reddening lips. She was yet bewildered and dreamy, but tranquillized by
the one dear presence, and the holy quiet which brooded over the place
of her rest. For a time she was unconscious of the tumult which still
raged without, for the sounds came but faintly to that holy place, and
seemed more like the heaving beat of a far off ocean than a strife of
angry men, heated and drunken with bad passions.
All at once a shout so long, loud and fierce, that it filled that
tranquil building like the howl of a demon, fell upon her ear. She
started up with a full consciousness of all that had happened to her
during the morning, and again sinking upon the steps of the altar buried
her face between her hands, and held her breath with a feeling of terror
such as she had never known before.
At that moment Dudley’s attendant, who had remained near the church
door, came hurriedly toward his master with information that the Duke of
Somerset had joined his men in person, and was now within a few paces of
the church.
(To be continued.)
* * * * *
THE ZEPHYR.
BY JULIET H. LEWIS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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