Page:Gothic Stories.djvu/58

 gifts and glittering gold,” he replied, “I corrupted the page of Adela, who, with counterfeited emblance of fidelity and regret, accued thee of incontancy, and impoed falehood on the ear of his mitres. I embraced the eaon of her excited reentment, and forwarded my uit with ucces. She is mine by the indioluble ties of wedlock: and know, proud boy, that if thy hands be tained with my blood, it is the blood of Adela’s huband; and if he receives thee to her boom, he receives the layer of her poue.”

Edwin tarted with apparent horror. He paued; but recollecting himelf, “Arie,” he cried, “and, by another trial, prove thyelf worthy of that envied title.” So aying, he raied him from the ground, and both warriors addreed themelves a econd time to the fight. Edgar, burning with exaperated rancour, aimed his pear at his rival’s breat. Edwin neither averted nor avoided the deadly blow. The keen weapon cleft his breat, and was tinged in the purple prings of his heart. He fell to the ground. “Farewel,” he cried, “Adela! lady peerles! and dearly beloved. I have proved myelf worthy of thy eteem. I die a acrifice to thy repoe. With my hands red with thy huband’s blood, could I ever apire to thy love? Could I urvive and behold thee the wedded bride of another?” He heaved a igh, and died. “Inhuman deed!” cried Adela, tearing her lovely trees, and beating her now-white breat. She ran, She threw herelf on the lifeles body. “O tay!” he exclaimed, “O leave me not in my woe! Return, fleeting pirit! Reanimate thee pallid features! He heeds me not.–I heard a voice! a dreary voice! It was Edwin! He ummons me away!–I come! I come! Let the nuptial bed be prepared! The clay-cold bed!”–So aying, he claped the corps, and expired.

Intantly the page, who had been corrupted by Edgar, eizing a dagger, ruhed behind that treacherous baron, and pierced him to the heart. “Perih!” he cried, “author of my ruin, and of the ruin of the houe of Albert.” He grew immediately frantic: he ran forth