Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 251: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN “Then I shall find him without your assistance leave me for the present, Morton.” But, my lord, you surely will not meet this desperate fellow alone. He might——” ‘‘ Never fear for me, 1 wish to speak to him alone !” So saying, my lord waved his hand for Morton to retire, and went towards the orchard, ‘“ He distrusts me,” thought Morton, bitin g his nails in anger ; “if the rogue do but play his part well, all will proceed smoothly. But if he should not, what then? Suppose my lord offers him a large sum to tell all! Oh! but it cannot _ be. Let me see, let me see, what had best be done 2?” said he. “I will go to Lady Laura, and conyince her that I have had nothing to do in this affair.” | With a confident smile, Morton in which my lord had left her, He found her sitting on a sofa, bathed in tears, He bowed several times before she noticed him, “Lady Laura,” he said, at last, in a whining tone, “I am BOTEY, very sorry, that his lordship should haye spoken sharply oO you.” . Laura answered not. * Allow me to ask, my dear young lady, the cause of those precious, priceless tears you have now been shedding ?” As thus he spoke, his eyes gloated over her bosom heaying in grief, and he felt in his heart that he loved her. “Morton,” she said, ‘‘ why this intrusion ?” ‘Pardon, my lady ; I saw you in great grief, and have thus hastily returned to assure you of my deep sorrow at what has occurred,”’ “How knew you, then, that anything had occurred ?” “My lord informed me of all.’’ Laura hid her face, and wept anew. ‘As a friend, Morton, tell me who has been poisoning my father’s ear against me ?” “ Against you, my lady? Surely none could be so base as to traduce you ?” “Yes, there isa knaye at work somewhere, Morton, I feel certain,” ** What proofs have you, my lady ?” “As much proof, Morton, as one has to tell him that a snake has crossed his path—the slimy creature has left traces of itself,” As she said this, Lady Laura fixed her gaze upon the pale face of Morton, which was, as usual, wreathed in a sickly smile. ‘You haye always professed great friendship for both my father and myself,” said Laura, calmly.” Morton bowed. ‘‘ And I know you desire an opportunity of proving it.” “T would do anything for Lady Laura,’’ he answered, very humbly ; “there is no more devoted slave than I would be in her service.” ‘Then tell me, who is this devil in human form who has brought such misery upon us of late?” “T cannot tell, my lady.” THE ; you may proceeded to the apartment TERRIBLE. 247 “But, cannot he be discovered ?” “It is possible,” 7 ‘‘And nene that I know ig more capable of solving the difficulty than you.” - “ Lady Laura has great faith in my ability.” “IT have great faith in your cunning,” said Lady Laura, calmly. “Cunning, my lady ?” “Yes, cunning.” “T do not understand you, perhaps, my lady,” said Morton, not daring to fairly meet the gaze of the injured girl. “Tt is not difficult to understand my words, they are very simple.” “ And stili I confess I do not comprehend them.” “But you understand well enough when a man speaks to you ?” “Yes, my lady, I do.” ““A man, I mean, who can meet you in the shrubbery by appointment, for instance.” ‘“Mvet me by appointment, in the shrubbery?” said Morton, very slowly, “Yes, you have met men by appoin’- -t before now, I know, and, therefore, need not Jook so surprised.” “ Nay, lady, on my word——”’ “On your word! You would say, then, that you have not met a rough, villanous-looking man in the shrubbery here, eh ?” “No, I do not deny it.” “ And what was his purpose ?” “T know not that any one has a right to ask me that, not even you, Lady Laura,” ‘But I have, and a very great right,” said Lady Laura, colouring. “ As your father’s friend and confidante ?”’ “ My father’s what, sir?” “ Friend and confidante.” “ His enemy and deceiver, you ought to have said !” Morton looked as if he had been struck dumb. Laura continued. “Your footsteps haye been watched, Morton, night and day !” f By whom?” “ By one you know not,”’ “‘ Blue-Jacket, perhaps, your particular friend, Lady Laura ?” ‘“No, not by any friend of mine,” Laura answered, with scorn, “but by me!” “You?” “Yes, I have watched you night and day, as far as possible.”’ Morton rose and was about to depart, “Do not go yet,” she said, ‘‘ but listen to me.” ‘‘[ wish to retire, my lady. You are flushed, angry, and do not know what you say.” (Lo be continued.) THE TWO (Concluded from page 240.) — i t last These two unfortunate young ladies, after a long search, a found t)e ladder they s0 much wanted; but several of the steps Were missing, and they were obliged to make the best use of it they could in this imperfect condition, not, however, till they had lost time in seeking for them. Mitheidclay occasioned by this search proved fatal to them ; they were on the point of applying the Judder to the outer walls, when i ay Si ith them. ‘0 of the most active of the lay sisters came up WI Se scanapsilncel y seized and detained them, till the others came up; they were then brought back into the convent, and notwith- standing their tears and lamentations, Ivcked up in separate cham- bers dnring the ensuing night. Next day the abbess sent t Hg f ae eividsthie to describe the savage fury of the father on this , s] his i hey been the most abandoned of wretcses, Pehwe oF Fi ke Rabe] not have been worse; he loaded them with all heir parents word of what had VICTIMS. manner of abuse, and without deigning to explain his intention, he - left them, with a solemn menace that they s‘iould never see his face again. Had the abiess retained the least spark of honesty or religion, she must have insisted on the restoration to Jiberty of these inno- cent young women, who had done nothing but what they were fully warranted in, by the laws of God and man. But instead of hearkening to the suggestions of duty or piety, that worthless woman basely consented, from lucrative motives, as i: afterwards appeared, to continue the vile instrument of barbarity and oppression, which their parents had found her. In order to sanctify the farce she had projected, a solemn chapel was held of all the nuns in the conyent, both mothers and sisters’; that is to say, both old and young were called together, and the two young ladies were produced before them like culprits, to receive their sentence. COMIC oolkxs.conm