Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 227: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN THE In &@ moment Will Wint > er and Harmer clambered moe bee nae and stood on deck, tee er produced a long knife, and in a trice he ripped open the sack, and the lled 0 F a Heayy base af a re rolled out upon the deck several any articles of gold and silver plate were there é also RPE Seeeite ve of fashionable clothes of the ‘y material, and adorned in th 1 manner with gold and silver lace, TPS aieeabeens Gee tishted. 1s a fine haul, Master Winter,” said Hanmer iit. “So it is; but let us transfer all this below oe z and get pies : a is not much time to lose.” wala SY .~ ont you be in such a violent hurry, young gentleman.” said Harmer, deep in thouch 2 youns aman, spun?) See Pp ought, and stroking his beard in pro- “Why, what are you thinking about, Harmer?” said Will, smiling. “So much treasure instead of pleasi you turn as solemn asa judge.” pleasing you makes “So it does, Master, Winter, so it does,” He took up a large armful of clothes and and disappeared below with them, Gaara Will Winter followed his example, but when he got down 223 < TERRIBLE. Into the cabin he dropped his load in great surprise at what he saw before him, There stood a finely-dressed gentleman in slouched hat and feathers. “Ha! ha! I thought I’d surprise you,” said the don. “What, is that Harmer ?” i ‘i Yes, my lad, Don’t I become fine clothes? Just look at As he spoke he strutted about in the approved style of dandies, and certainly looked very much unlike the Harry Harmer of a few moments before. “I thought I’d surprise you, Master Winter,” he said. “ It don’t take long for me to dress, does it?” ‘‘But what do you intend to do 2” “Do? Why go into the Forge just asI am, and with -plenty of money in my pockets to be sure ; that’s the way to put iyo rascals off their guard, and you must do the same.” ‘Yes, you, and why not? We'll draw up the boatsin some quiet dark place, and distribute our men in different direc- tions, while you, and I dressed up in this style, will saunter about the chief wine-shops, and see how the land lays,” (Zo be continued.) THE PRINCE AND THE FISHERMAN. Concluded from page 216. ——_+—— : The gaoler, who had treated him humanely ever since he had een in his custody, struck with his air of contentment, hesi- tated to announce to him the visit of the clergyman, fearing to disturb the poor prisoner’s reverie; but he received the in- telligence with joy. He conversed for two hours with the good priest, and shed sweet tears on receiving the last absolution. The priest left the prison melted into tears, and loudly pro- claiming, that never in his life had he met with a soul more pure, or so filled with resignation and courage. The young fisherman was still absorbed by consoling thoughts, when his sister entered. From the hour of her leaving the chamber in which her brother had been arrested, the poor girl had taken refuge with ‘an aunt ; and, never ceasing to accuse herself, as the cause of all the misery that had happened, she passed the time in -weeping at the feet of her holy patroness. Bending under her grief, like a lily beneath the storm, she remained for hours pale and motionless, detached from the world, with her tears trickling silently between her beautiful white fingers ; but when the moment arrived at which she was to embrace her brother for the last time, she rose with the courage of a saint, effaced all traces of her tears, braided her fine black hair, and attired herself in a. white robe; the un- fortunate child even endeavoured to conceal her grief by an angelical deceit—she had the power to smile. At the sight of her fearful paleness, however, Gabriel feit his heart grow cold. A cloud passed before his eyes, and he ran to meet her, forgetting the chain by which he was fastened to the pillar of his prison. The severe check thus given would have thrown him to the ground, but Nisida sprang forward and caught him in her arms. The young girl quickly understood the cause of his agi- tation, and assured him she was in good health. Fearful of reminding him of his terrible situation, she spoke with volubility of a thousand things—of her aunt, of the beauty of the weather, and of the Madonna ; but she stopped suddenly, terrified by her own words; and then, equally affrighted by silence, she fixed her burning eyes upon her brother’s face, as if in the attempt to fascinate him, and so draw him from his griefs. Little by little, however; she recovered herself; a faint colour returned to her emaciated cheeks ; and Gabriel, im- posed upon by her superhuman efforts, found her still beauti- ful, and thanked God in his heart for having spared that feeble creature. Nisida, as if she had followed the secret thoughts of her brother to their source, approached him, and taking his hand with an air of intelligence, murmured in aloud voice, “Tt is fortunate that our father is absent from the island ; he will be detained in the city, he has informed me, for two days. With us it is different; we are young, and have courage,” The poor girl was trembling like an aspen leaf as she spoke. “What will become of you, my poor Nisida ?” sighed Gabriel. “ Oh! I will pray to the Madonna,” rejoined the young girl. Will she not protect us ?” She paused, struck by her own words, to which circun- stances seemed cruelly to give the lie; but, glancing at her brother, she continued in an animated tone. “Certainly she will protect us. She again appeared to me last night in a dream :’ she held her infant Jesus in her arms, and gazed upon me with the tenderness of a mother. She wishes to make us saints, for she loves us; but to be saints, Gabriel, you know that we must suffer.” “True, my good sister,” replied Gabriel. ‘Go, then, and pray for me; but shun these sad thoughts, which will but shake your firmness, and perhaps mine also. Go, we shall meet again on high, where our mother awaits us; our mother whom you have never known, and to whom [ will often speak. of thee. Farewell, Nisida, until we meet again !” And he tenderly kissed her forehead. ‘The poor girl summoned all her strength to aid her in this trying moment. She walked with a firm step towards the door; and, on reaching the threshold, she turned, and waved her hand as a final adieu, preventing her agony from escaping by a nervous contraction of the whole frame; but, when slie was once more in the passage, a groan burst from her op- pressed breast, and Gabriel, to whom the vault conveyed the sound, believed that her heart was broken. “My sufferings are finished !” he cried, throwing himself upon his knees, and raising his hands towards heaven. “I have now nothing to bind me to life! Thanks, my God; you keep my father elsewhere ; you spare the old man a grief that is beyond his strength !” It was now noon ; and, after having exhausted all pos- sible means—after having spent his last piece of gold, and embraced the knees of the last lackey by whose interest he might obtain a remission of his son’s sentence, Solomon, the fisherman, bent his way towarfs *he 9-)<¢ + : On presenting himself, his cou om S bo Kereorn