Page:Popular Tales of the Germans (Volume 1).djvu/235

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OF THE VEIL.
217

mediately kindled his lamp (the light of which he rationally conjectured would allure the diſtreſſed fair) took his roſary in his hand, threw himſelf into a devout poſture, and counted bead after bead, at the ſame time liſtening with both his ears if any thing ſtirred abroad.

The ſtratagem ſucceeded: he heard a low noiſe, like a cautious tread on the ſand, as of one afraid of being diſcovered. The crafty anchoret redoubled his feigned devotion as ſoon as he found he was obſerved: having ended his oriſons, he roſe from his cuſhion, and looked ſideways, where ſhe ſtood, his fair captive! in the ſimpleſt female attire, with a countenance expreſſive of the deepeſt grief, in the captivating ſoftneſs of ſilent, baſhful beauty. The feeling heart of Friedbert at the moving ſight melted away like wax before the flame of candle, in the tenderneſs of ſoft deſire. The faireſt ſtudent of ſentimental novels would in vain aſpire to rival the inimitable expreſſion of her ſorrow. She

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