Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 196: what you’re looking at

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192 THE PRINCE AND with great warmth. “One word from you, light of my eyes, and idol of my heart, and I will night and day labour without intermission, to render myself worthy of possessing a treasure which God has revealed to my dazzled senses ; and, poor and obscure as you see me, I shall become rich and powerful.” ~“T have stayed too long to listen to words which a young girl ought not to hear,’ said Nisida. ‘‘ Allow me, signor, to retire.”’ “Have pity upon me, my cruel enemy!” exclaimed the prince. “ What have I done that you should thus leave me with death in my very soul? You know not that for several months past I have followed you like a shadow—that my nights are spent in roaming round your house, stifling my sighs lest they should disturb your peaceful sleep! You fear, perhaps, to allow yourself to be softened at the first interview by.an unfortunate who adores you. Alas! Juliet was young and beautiful, like you, and she was not long in having pity on Romeo.” Nisida cast a sad and thoughtfullook on the handsome young man who spoke with a voice so sweet ; and she retired without giving any further reply, in order not to humiliate him in his misery. . The prince required all his efforts to stifle a violent in- clination to laugh; and, quite satisfied with his first essay, he returned to the place where he had left Trespolo; who, after emptying a bottle of Jachryma, with which he had provided himself, had sought out a spot-where the grass was highest and thickest, and fallen fast asleep. The young girl did not close her eyes during the whole of that night. The sudden appearance of the stranger, his costume, and fine language, had awakened a vague sentiment which slum- bered until then in the depths of her heart. The only one of her adorers who had dared to avow his love was Bastiano, the dearest and most devoted friend of her brother Gabriel ; but Bastiano did not please her much. Thus, confident in her beauty and sustained by a mys- terious hope which never abandons youth, she was resigned to wait, like a king’s daughter who expects the arrival of her bridegroom from a foreign country. The day of Assumption was the first on which she had ever left her native island, fate having placed her amongst the young girls dedicated by their mothers to the special service of the Virgin; but, overcome by the weight of a part so new to her, blushing and confused under the regards of an immense crowd, she had scarcely dared to raise her as- tonished eyes, and the grandeur of the city had passed before her like a dream, of which she retained but a vague remembrance. When, however, she saw the handsome young man who had borne himself so nobly, so strongly in contrast with the timidity and awkwardness of her other lovers, an impression was at once made. She felt seized with an inward pain, and would, doubtless, have believed that her prince had arrived, if she had not been disagreeably struck by the poverty of his attire. Nevertheless, she returned to the window and listened along time for his return, with an oppressed bosom, fiery cheeks, and wounded heart. The poor girl would have died with terror, if she could have divined the truth. The next morning Nisida rose at her usual hour, and pre- sented herself before her father for his paternal kiss, when the old man instantly saw the languor and fatigue which the effects of a sleepless night had produced ; and, as he put aside the beau- tiful black hair which covered her cheeks, he anxiously in- quired what ailed her, and expressed fears that she had not slept well. This elicited a full and frank confession of all that had happened, which was listened to with the most affectionate kindness by the old man; who, in reply to a solicitation that he would command her to become the wife of the stranger, promised to do all that would best promote her hap- piness, and declared that the poverty of her lover should be no obstacle to their union. (To be continued.) THE FISHERMAN. SOMETHING NEW! IMPORTANT NOTICE TO OUR READERS. The most exciting and interesting Story ever written, entitled, the JOLLY DOGS OF LONDON; THE TWO ROADS OF LIFE. Extract from No. 1:— Muffled by the close and heavy vapours, came faintly the wild shriek of some human being in mortal agony. The men rested on the rowlocks, and stared aghast at each other. Again a terrible cry as of one ina death struggle. ‘¢ Man overboard !” ssid Hogan,rising. _ oh ‘¢ You’ll be overboard, too, if you don’t sit down, mate. Trim the boat; now then! Hark ye!” . A third and yet more thrilling scream. : ‘¢ Shiver my topmast ! if drownin’ people ain’t as common in these ere waters as tad-poles in a marsh-pond! gasped Beamish. Hogan, who was still on his feet, arches his fingers round his lips, and hallooed in the direction from which thecry had sounded. _ “Yo, ho! yo, ho! where away? Sing out agen, you in dis- tress—yo, ho!” “ Help, for God’s sake!—help, help !”” shrieked a voice from the water. The cry sounded nearer. “ Starnall! Light another link, Beamish !” Again the men shouted. They received no answer. yn ‘¢ Poor wretch. Depend on’t, Hogan, he’s gone under.” ‘6 Where are we now, think ye?” ‘¢ Off Millbank Gaol?” &é Ha 192 : The lurid glare of the flaming torches flashes bright on the black aud surging waters which roll on beneath their murky mantle of fo s hand is suddenly tossed up through the muddy stream, then arms, then white and distorted features. ; The next moment the boat heels over, and its occupants give a yell of alarm. The drowning man has fixed a convulsive grasp upon her bows. Beamish drags him into the boat. . His head falls back on the huge man’s shoulder, and his limbs droop. He sinks down upon the gratings. The torches flare down upon him as he lies senseless and motion- less. He is tall and slim, dressed in a close-fitting suit of coarse grey surge, his black hair is close-cropped, and one leg, the trouser being rolled to the knee, is bare, and stained with slime and blood, aay the torchlight glints on a cold, bright, steel ring encircling the ankle. © The men exchange meaning glances. ‘* Millbank,” says Hogan, quietly giving a tug at the oar to turn the boat in that direction. ‘ He’s a convict escaped. Shall’s take him back ? there’ll be a reward, perhaps.” ; ‘“ No, no, poor devil, no,” whispers Beamish, hoarsely. ‘‘ ’Tain’t in natur’. The old wharf, mate, on the Lambeth side. Give him up? Cuss me, if I’ve the heart to do it.” A SPLENDID NEW LARGE PICTURE CONTAINING THE JOLLY DOGS OF LON- |THE JOLLY DOG’S WIFE, DON BY NIGHT, THE JOLLY DOG’S GIRLS, THE JOLLY DOG AT/THE JOLLY DOG'S AS- HOME, SISTANT, and THE JOLLY DOG OUT, THE JOLLY DOGS END. The Engraving and Nos. 1 and 2 for One Penny. NOTICE.—The Work will also centain the commencement of a Series of Stories, entitled, TALES FROM THE INVISIBLE WORLD. ’ ORDER EARLY TO SEOURE COPIES. THE JOLLY DOCS OF LONDON; . OR, THE Bhenys TWO ROADS OF LIFE. 4 MAG6 Eomichooks:com