Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 147: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

IVAN THE Will pee gave the word to the Apprentices to attack the prison The order was received with a yell of delight ! Full of rage at being fired upon, the passionate youths then and there assembled, braved all danger, and rushed at the prison gates as if they were only having a holiday recreation. Large poles were brought. A dozen or more of stalwart youths battered it against the gates with great violence. _ After many attempts, and under the fire of those within the place, the heavy doors gave way with a crash and fell off their hinges with a great noise and smash, ‘* Down, lads; down !”’ shouted Will. In an instant his followers fell upon their faces. Those within the gaol fired a volley, but the bullets only whistled over the heads of the Apprentices. With loud shouts they rose to their feet, Headed by Will Winter, Harry, Darby and others, sword in ao they dashed over the fallen gates into the prison yard. The conflict now became general and sanguinary, Some with ladders had scaled the walls, TERRIBLE. 143 These entered the various windows and scattered them- selves over the gaol in every direction. They were not long in discovering Ned Adams and his brother Apprentices, who were on the instant released. Their object being obtained, Will Winter, to save all loss of life or shedding of blood, blew his horn, and the conflict ceased. “‘Gaolers, what think you of us now?” Will asked, as his followers brought out the long-faced, dejected Faolers, who, with black eyes, bloody noses, cut heads and lame legs, crawled forth from the prison, more dead than alive, and amid the uproarious jeers of the Apprentices. Ned Adams and the other Apprentices who had been con- fined were now led forth in triumph, and carried on the shoulders of their friends. The Apprentices would even so have done with Harry, Darby and Will Winter, but the latter, as well as the two former, had too-much to do to think of idling their time in such a manner. ‘Follow me l’*said Will; ‘Ivan and his gang are going to seize Judge Harly and liberate those condemned forexecution.” (Zo be continued.) ee? THE RED HOUSE AT ST. PETERSBURGH. (Continued from page 136.) « J A e The general paused a moment to judge of the impression these words would make on Vaninka; but her hand remained motionless in that of her father. ; ‘© Your hand was engaged by me a year ago,” he added. ** May I know to whom 2?” asked Vaninka, coldly. “To the son of the emperor’s first councillor,”’ replied the general. ‘What do you think of him ?” ‘He isa worthy and noble young man, as I am infornied,” said Vaninka; ‘but I can form no other opinion than that which I have received from others. Has he not been in garrison at Moscow for the last three montlis ?”” ‘¢ Yes,” returned the general, ‘‘ but in three more he will return.” Vaninka remained silent. “‘ Have you no answer to make me?” resumed the general. a No, my father,” said Vaninka; ‘‘only I have a favour to beg pf you,” “* What is it ?” inquired the general. “That I shall not be married until I have attained the age of twenty.” * And why ?” . ‘**T have made a vow.’” “What if circumstances necessitate the breaking of this vow, and render the celebration of the marriage urgent ?” What circumstances can so operate?” inquired Vaninka. * Foedor loves you,” said the general, gazing fixedly on her. “1 know it,” replied the young girl, with as much tranquillity as if the question had not been addressed her. “You know it?” cried the general. “Yes, he told me so.” ‘© And when ?”” Last night.” *€ And your answer wes——” “That he must quit this place immediately.” ** And did he consent ?” ; , © Yes, wy father.” _ When does he go?” ‘© He is gone.” ‘‘ How can that be?” inquired the general. me at ten o’clock.” ‘© He left me at midnight,”’ said Vaninka. ; * Ab,” cried the general, breathing for the first time from his ‘© He only quitted ~ full heart, “you are a good child, Vaninka, and I grant what you ask, that is to say a delay of two years. Reflect only, in the meau- time, that it was the emperor who decided upon this marriage.” ‘« My father will do me the justice to believe,” she replied, *¢ that I am too submissive a daughter to prove a rebellious subject.” “Good, Vanirka, good,” said the general. ‘‘So, then, poor Toedor has told youall?” =~ ‘6 Yes,” replied the young girl. ' You knew, then, that he applied to me in the first instance ?” | frightful. ‘* I knew it.” “Tt was from himjthen, that you learned that your hand was engaged ?” “Tt was from him.” * And he consented to go! He isa good and noble young man, and my protection shall follow him wherever he goes. Oh, if my word had not been passed,” continued the general, ‘I love him so much that, if there were no repugnance on your part, on my honour I should have given him your hand.” : ‘© And cannot your word be recalled ?” inquired Vaninka. ** Tmpossible,” said the general. 7 ance that which ought to happen must be accomplished,” she Teplied. ; ' ‘“‘That is spoken like my daughter !”’ exclaimed the general, em- bracing her. ‘‘ Adieu, Vaninka, I do not ask you if you love him. You have done your duty to both, and I have nothing more to exact from you.” So saying, he rose and left the room. Annouschka was in the corridor; the general made a sign to her that she might re-enter, and continued his way. At the door of his chamber he found Gregory. : “‘ Well, your exce)lency?” inquired the slave. “Well,” said the general, ‘‘ you are both right and wrong; Foedor loves my daughter, but my daughter loves not him. Foedor was with my danghter at eleven o’clock, but at midnight left her for ever. No matter, come to me to-morrow, and you shall have your thousand rubles and your liberty.” Gregory went away, stupefied with astonishment. ; During this time Annouschka had re-entered her mistress’s chamber in accordance with the command she had received, and closed the door carefully behind her. Vaninka immediately leaped out of bed, and approaching the door listened to the general’s re- treating footsteps. : When they could no longer -be heard she hastened into Anuouschka’s room, and both began eagerly to throw aside a large ‘bundle of wool which had been placed as if by accident, in the em- brasure of a window. Behind this wool was au ample chest, which Annouschka unlocked, and Vaninka anxiously raised the lid; but the two females uttered a loud shriek, for the chest had become a coffin ; the young officer, stifled for want of air, lay dead withiu ! For a long time, however, they hoped he had but fainted ; they raised him, removed him from the chest, sprinkled his face with water, and resorted to every restorative that Vaninka’s toilet could supply; but in vain. . During the conversation which the general had with his daughter, and which lasted more than half an hour, Foedoxy unable to dis- engage himself from the fatal coffer, had perished, as we have said, for want of air. The position of the two young girls, shut up with a corpse, was And Annouschka already saw Siberia in perspective. COMIC MOOKS. COR —