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Fleming, May Agnes, 1840-1880

"The Midnight Queen"

The feeling of heat
and suffocation was dreadful and as her abductor placed her on
some cushions, she made another desperate but feeble effort to
free herself from the smothering shawl, but a hand was laid
lightly on hers, and a voice interposed.
"Lady, it is quite useless for you to struggle, as you are
irrevocably in my power, but if you will promise faithfully not
to make any outcry, and will submit to be blindfolded, I shall
remove this oppressive muffling from your head. Tell me if you
will promise."
He had partly raised the shawl, and a gush of free air came
revivingly in, and enabled Leoline to gasp out a faint "I
promise!" As she spoke, it was lifted off altogether, and she
caught one bright fleeting glimpse of the river, sparkling and
silvery in the moonlight; of the bright blue sky, gemmed with
countless stars, and of some one by her side in the dress of a
court-page, whose face was perfectly unknown to her. The next
instant, a bandage was bound tightly over her eyes, excluding
every ray of light, while the strange voice again spoke
apologetically
"Pardon, lady, but it is my orders! I am commanded to treat you
with every respect, but not to let you see where you are borne
to.


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