Ivan the Terrible; or, Dark Deeds of Night — page 39: what you’re looking at

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

IVAN THE As he said these words, he struck the table a vioient blow with his fist, when the marriage contract and the secret pass- pen ruddenly disappeared through it in an instant, as if by magic “Now you shall gaze upon her you love,” said the astrologer, Holding up his hands, he said something in a language that the king did not understand, when as gradually as it came, the strange white light that pervaded the apartment, slowly disappeared, and all was impenetrable darkness again. ‘Hold, I pray you!” saidthe king. “I see nought now! Keep your promise, I beg and implore! Let meé gaze upon the sweet face of her whom I adote! I implore you to let me see her! No,no! She does not come! I cannot hear even her own sweet voice! I cannot see her! Allis dark and drear |” f Patience !” solemnly sighed a voice. “Who speaks thus to me ?” said the king. “ Be still!” was the rejoinder. James stood in an attitude of expectation, x He dared not move in the intense darkness that was around im, He dared not speak, for angunearthly fear had seized his soul, Moments seemed like hours as they passed slowly by. Just as eager and anxious expectation had become too painful to last, a faint light appeared upon one of the walls of the room. “Behold !” said a voice. It seemed as if the wall shrank from before the vision of the astonished king, leaving an oval light in its place of about four feet in height. The oval kind of halo settled itself into a clearer outline, but still the centre of it was yet but dim and obscure; but that was fast clearing, and then the king to his surprise saw something in the shape of a human form emerging into view. With an exclamation of joy and wonder, he sees the dim, vapoury oval of light become quite clear, and then as if some life-like picture in a frame appeared before him, he sees the young enchantress, who had enraptured him in the park, and for whose love he was now willing to stake all and every- thing. “ Beautiful vision!” he cried aloud, ‘‘Come to me, oh come |” | The angelic vision smiled sweetly upon him, and the roseate lips opened as she sighed, in a voice of gentle mélan- choly, J, Be true, be faithful, and I will surely come at the ap- pointed hour !” Gradually the mist gathered over her and the oval of light disappeared, ‘No |” cried the king. “Do not leave me thus. Speak to me, I[implore you! You do not know how truly and fondly I love you!” ** Come |” said a rough voice. At that moment a hand grasped his arm, and led him from the room, as he soon found, although at the moment in the intense darkness that again had come over all things, he could not tell where he was going, and conjectured it might possibly be into the presence of the beautiful maiden herself. -A rush of cold air came upon his face, and then the harsh sounds of the closing door. . Something like a heavy piece of drapery seemed to be drawn up suddenly from before his bewildered eyes, and the king found himself alone in the quiet, dreary streets, companion- less, and far from his home, in a drizzly, misty rain [ GCHAPTDR XVII. THE MAN OF MYSTERY APPEARS—BLUE JACKET AND THE PUBLIC CRIERS>ESCAPE OF HARRY AND DARBY—HOW IT WAS DONE—THEY SAIL FOR CORNWALL—PERILOUS POSITION OF BLUE JACKET—HIS SKILL AND COURAGE REWARDED. BLUE JACKET and Lizzie Lovedale had not been many kours in London ere their cars were surprised to hear numerous TERRIBLE 35 newsvendors and public criers going about the street bawling out startling news— “*Hre’s a fulland perticlar account o’ the ’orrid juel which took place in Hyde Park atween two gents whose names is unbeknown to any one, with a description o’ the body o’ one on ’em, vich had steel armour around his body, and a large hole in his side. On’y one penny, vith a pictur o’ the place, and kerrect likeness o’ the unfortunate party aforesaid given pratis for nothing.” “Oh, yes !—oh, yes !—oh, yes!” shouted the public criers. through the streets. ‘“ Whereas there have been a norrid dool or murd-e-r in the king’s park, and the person or persons haye escaped, therefore a reward of £100 is offered for the appre- hension of the same villain or villains, names unknown,” “This is rather singular,” said Blue Jacket. “I never heard anything of this on the road.” But at that moment another newsmonger passed by, shout- ing out with stentorian lungs, “Hre’s a wetry true and authentic account o’ the wonder- ful and m-a-r-vellous escape of the famous Captain Blue Jacket from Darlington Castle, with pictur o’ the prison, and a copy o’ werses which the bold captain writ to his sweet- heart on that ewentful occasion, On’y one penny !” Blue Jacket mixed among the crowds that flocked around these noisy bawling newsmongers, and throwing the man a piece of silver purchased a “full and true account” of his own escape from Darlington Castle, and ’tis needless to say he laughed heartily over it. While he stood under a dim and dingy lamp reading this “account” of his own exploit he was touched on the arin by some one who was masked, and whose voice he could not recognize. : “Blue Jacket,” he said, in tones of command, “listen to me ; be not afraid.” The stranger then and there gave an account of Harry’s duel, and concludéd his remarks by saying, ‘They have arrested him in mistake for the doings of one of yours, Will you rescue him ?” “What! Latia’s brother? By my soul I will!’ said Blue Jacket, with an oath, “TI know you not; but you are an honest fellow, masked and disguised as you are, and rather than let that brave lad perish, or be confined in a loathsome dungeon, I will risk my life singly and alone.” “Thou art braver than I ever thought thee,” said the stranger, with a cordial grip of the hand. Do, this, and you will not repent it, for I am powerful,” “Who art thou, then ?” “Seek not yet to know; yet remember me! Man of Mystery !” | So saying the stranger darted among the passing crowd, and was lost in the surrounding darkness, “What !’” mused Blue Jacket, in astonishment. ‘ Young Harry Percy—amere boy—slay Count Vincento, one of Iyan’s greatest men! Well, that lad’s life zs worth preserving, and it shall be.” So saying Blue Jacket went into a wine-shop near by, and having taken a good portion of brandy himself, bought a small bottle of the same liquor, and started off towards the prison where Harry and Darby were confined. On his way he purchased about twenty yards of stout rope, as many yards of twine, and a few large, long nails and a hammer. Having made these simple preparations he approached the prison very carefully and examined all its parts. It was a strong, roughly-built building, of about two stories high, and stood in 4 large garden, fully detached from the main street. Three or four steepy constables in their watch boxes dozed away comfortably without the least suspicion that such a clever fellow as Blue Jacket was within many miles of them. “That's right, old fellows, snore away,” he said, with a chuckle, “in an hour or two you'll wake up to find your prisoners gone. But, which cell do they occupy, I wonder?” At that moment he heard some one singing in a strong cell on the second floor. “That can’t be his voice ; his tongue isn’t as rough as that,” CoOmiclbookxs.con I am the