Page:Duty and Inclination. Volume 3.pdf/283

Rh been raised by that friend upon whose virtues she had been meditating, the filial Dr. Lovesworth, to the memory of his father, her mother's uncle,—the hope of discovering which had tempted her to bend her footsteps so far alone, for the purpose of transmitting the interesting epitaph as well as the monument to her sketch-book.

Having at length discovered the object of her search, she boldly drew near, read the inscription, and insensibly gave way to that tender melancholy a scene so solemn might inspire. Retreating to a little distance, she seated herself in a situation the most convenient for executing the drawing she was about to make. After a little interval, becoming deeply intent upon her work, somebody from behind, as with electric swiftness, sprung violently upon her, cast rapidly a bandage around her sight, lifted her from the ground, and running with her a few paces, stopped for an instant, and descended, to all appearance, into some dark cavity or hollow place. The terrified girl, paralysed, uttered but one shriek, and fainting away, became lost for an interval to all that passed around her.

In a word, it was Melliphant himself who had descended that vault of death, with the unhappy Rosilia, experiencing the utmost excess of savage joy at having at last effected his long-planned infamous project. Rosilia was now completely delivered into his power, and such a moment made ample amends