The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

EEE EEE 24 THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. : iene Pee ee ees coolly ; “but your very humble servant, Colonel Blood ! a gentleman, I can assure you, who will feel great pleasure in introducing each of you to the common hangman, unless you produce in two months the real murderer of Farmer Bertram, and serve me at all times.” & The stranger was in truth no other than Colonel Blood, but what brought him so far from London was a mystery which we shall have to clear up shortly. CHAPTER IX. THE MILLER’S DAUGHTER—COLONEL BLOOD FALLS INTO ROUGH HANDS—THE MURDER ON THE BRIDGE. THE reason that Colonel Blood was so far from London is easily explained by what took place in Darlington the second night of his visit. The miller of the village, Hugh Harmer, had a very pretty daughter named Ellen, who was the pride and the toast of the surrounding country. — Like a hawk poised in the air, gazing on his in- tended prey below, did Colonel Blood hover around Hugh Harmer’s house close by the bubbling and splashing mill-stream. He had espied Ellen by chance, and in her saw not the virtuous village maiden, but a beautiful object for his master, the Merry Monarch, who, Blood knew, would pay any price to gratify his beastial passions. Captain Jack and his rough party had left the inn but half-an-hour, when a card was brought to Blood by some one old Horn had never scen before. « Admit the stranger, landlord,” said Blood. A sorrowful-looking fellow walked in, hat in hand. He was very wet from head to foot, and his clothes were in rags around him. “ Have you seen her ?” “ Her answer is here,” said the stranger, producing a small note out of his breast pocket. Blood tore it open, and read it, : His eye sparkled with fire, and his handsome features twitched as he perused its contents, which ran as follows :— *«StR,—Our first meeting, I fear, has caused much uneasiness and unhappiness to both. ** But, notwithstanding your constant letters and frequent visits to Darlington, I fear that your intentions cannot beso disinterested towards me as your eloquent notes would have me believe. “‘ This thought has often occurred. to my mind since I first imprudently met you, and is more and more confirmed by the fact that you impress upon me the necessity of keeping our correspondence a secret from my dear old father, which no perzon, having honourable intentions, would ever propose to a simple country girl. ‘* As a last favour I beg that you will no more insult me with your proposals of eloping from my father’s roof, or ever again presume to throw yourself purposely in my path to pour polsonous councils into my ears. “In fine, sir, I fear I have too long been the dupe of your designs, and until, as a virtuous girl, I can sign my nameon the marriage register of the village church, I will never leave my father’s home, evenshould I love the man ever so much who bade me act otherwise, * Your humble servant, ** ELLEN HARM@R.” “ Clever as she’s pretty ; but quick and sharp as a needle,” thought Blood, ‘So much the better for King Charles,” ‘‘Did you miss the old man as usual?” asked Blood. “No, sir; for once he caught me,” said the ser- vant, with a very rueful face. “Then you had an adventure, you?” What said he to > AL aloe ore 419A “Oh! it’s you, is it? Here again,eh, and always- when I’m out,’ says he, flourishing his walking, stick, and then he shouted to the dogs, ° On to him Rover ! give it him, Spot! hold tight, Jip *’ and all the while he was laying on to me with his thick stick without mercy. ‘Quite a pleasant affair,” said Blood, with a smile. “Yes, sir, to think about ; but not very agreeable if you have to go through it.” ‘Well, well, I don’t wonder why old Harmer takes so much care of her, for she’s one of the daintiest little maidens that ever trod the earth,” said Blood, ‘No matter, if he had her locked up in a castle it would be all the same, she must be the king’s. To-night is the last time she’ll sleep under her father’s roof. Come, Jonas,” for such was his shivering servant’s name; “‘ go change your clothes, and have a stiff glass of brandy, I shall want you about midnight to go to the miller’s house with me.” “Again to-night, sir?”? gasped Jonas. ‘‘ Why, only }ou look here,” and as he turned round he ex- hibited to his master the seat of his trousers, his cloak, and other parts of his attire all in ribands. “Never mind, Jonas, you always had a reputa- tion for courage ; here’s a guinea for you, Go, prepare yourself.” Midnight was passed, and at an appointed time Jonas met his master, and both proceeded towards the miller’s, , Colonel Blood sauntered along in the silence of the night towards Harmer’s house, as handsome, bold, and cool-handed a knave as ever lived. He had just reached the narrow mill bridge, when he perceived the dark figure of a young man leaning over the hand-rail, and gazing in the shining water. Directly he heard the approach of footsteps, he turned, and his eyes sparkled with fierce delight. “Tis he!” said the young man, “I cannot be mistaken. JI have long desired this meeting. I came to bury myself beneath these shining waters, but ere I do, let me crush the skull of this villain, who has ruined me and blasted all my happiness; for, before his accursed shadow darkened our village, I was happy: but now, alas! Ellen Harmer’s heart is another’s,” : Colonel Blood approached, and had reached the centre of the bridge, when the youth suddenly con- fronted him with boldness and flashing eyes. _ ‘“What, Andrew Gamble!” said Blood, starting back a step or two in surprise. “Aye!” said Andrew, with a quivering lip. “Does that name startle your wicked heart ?”’ “Startle me, knave!’’ said Blood, with an air of great contempt, ‘‘ Make way, there! why do you cross my path again?” ‘“‘ Because you’ve crossed mine, and shall die,” said Andrew, advancing, ““Make way, there, I say!” said Blood, drawing his sword, ‘Let me pass, I like not your looks— there is murder in your eyes. ‘Make way, I tell ye, before I cleave ye to the ground.” NOTICE TO OUR READERS. REMEMBER !—A most valuable present is in preparation, and will be presented to all our regular Subscribers with an early Number, Full particulars will be announced in No, 6. (6) iboo <SniGO) 5}