Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

‘THE KNIGHT OF THE ROAD. : 1383 ~ YL wy ;energy, ‘andif you betray mo or deceive me, I | to the lieutenant, and I knew her character too well to ill never believe in anyone again.’ — ie believe that she would prove false to her plighted word. lave nothing to fear,’ I said. ‘Iamalwayson| ‘*‘He scowled angrily, and asked me to use ™v influ- right against mighi end unless I am greatly | ence. | | aken, you are suffering from the infliction of sume! ‘ ‘But this I posittvely declined. I said; f great wrong.’ = i es «“¢ The field is open, and if you can induce »27 to be “*Ttistrue, sir; but unfortunately it will take- some | yoer wi'e, why, do so.” : ____ time for ms to tell you all, and every moment is 80 pre- ‘ *T regretted having said this much, for he then began tous.” Dag: ae a ae & complete persecution of my niece. gex — “Tt can easily be managed,’ I said, ‘and without eny| ‘It was in vain she assured him that her heart was > Ss Toss of time’ irrevocably cnother’s—that she could never listen to any hy | other suit. F “ ¢He tried kind words at first, then appealed to her feelings and revived her father’s memory, and, failing, descended to common threats. gt “*<In my own mind I formed a pretty good idea of the exact state of affairs, and trembled for the future of my poor girl. | “* ‘Had she shown any signs of weakness—had she not been so steadfastly true to her absent lover—I should have entreated her to turna deaf ear to her guardian’s suit. “¢Tt would then have been necessary for me to give her a reason for such a wish, and that reason would simply have beeu this: “¢“T believe that he has unjustly and improperly ap- propriated and made use of a great deal of your wealth— more than he can possibly replace; and so he seeks, by a union with you, to patch up his delinquencies.” “¢ That, I have no doubt, is the actual state of affairs ; subsequent events have gone far to strengthen such an opinion. «But, as I said, there was no need for anything of __-** Why, with your permission I will secure my horse ge esi~ © yack part of this vehicle, and your man can 3:8- = _ tinue to drive you to your destination; then, if you will _ permit me to share the carriage with you, the explanation 4 can be given as we proceed.’ “ “Tt is a good thought!’ she exclaimed; ‘be i$ so, and oh, be quick, though I feel better now already "’ _ “T hastily carried out the intention I had expressed ___ *‘“ iy horse was securely fastened, and I entered the “LF . ___ farriage, and the coachman was ordered to proceed. : “Away we went at a rattling pace, and the old lady _ commenced by saying: | _ **Y must first put you in possession of a few names, __ gnd then the narrative will be easier. ‘Tn the first place, my name is Charlotte Chadwick. Iam a widow, and have been for many years, and in all tke wide world I have only two relatives. One is my dear niece Lillian, my deceased brother’s only child. . **By his will I was appointed one of her guardians ; 7 her other guardian is my step-brother, William Aldis, a _ manIdo not hesitate to Stigmatise as a villsin end a Se scoun this kind; Lillian was as firm as could be wished. ia ___ “* But you shall hear,’ she continued. ‘ My poor brother ‘“'¢ And so things have gone on up to the present time, before his death placed every confidence in this William _ Aldis, and at that time none of us knew his real character, nor believed him guilty of so much baseness as he has or, more correctly speaking, up to the day before yester- day, when I received a letter from an old friend of mine, who lives in a distant county, requesting me to pay her a visit with all speed, on a matter of great import- ance. “*T, of course, complied, and wished to take Lillian since exhibited. ___**Such being the case, then, he was left chief guardian Of Lillian, and up to the time of her rajority he was to ~ < >. ae ~* hold all her property, real and personal, as trustee. with me; but she was unwell, and, moreover, in constant «Bor my-own part, all I had to do -was to bring up | expectation of hearing from or either seeing her afiianced ___the deal girl and see to her education. _ “* Without vanity, I may say that I have performed _ ‘my task properly and conscientiously. — _ -&* We were always cogether—Lillian and I—for we -—s Were mutually fond of each other. | _ “*We saw but little of William Aldis, who punctually atthe proper intervals sent us the instalments of the husband, and I could not persuade her to leave London. «¢ Alas—alas that I left her! “¢When I arrived at my destination I found the ereatest surprise was manifested at my arvival. “<The letter was produced, and it was declared to be a forgery. “¢ At first I knew not what to think, and wondered 5 err pve ay rit bt ‘money as directed by my brother’s will. why anyone could have been so unfeeling a3 to play such . . **And so matters went on peaceably enough until |a hoax on a person of my age, for travelling to me is a Lillian reached her nineteenth year. serious matter. “For along time past she had been beloved by and “¢Then, all at once, I felt, like a flash, that it meant some danger to Lillian, and, in spite of my fatigue, I hastily commenced a return journey, though | was laughed at for doing so. “<On my arrival, I found that my worst fears were confirmed. ““¢Soon after my departure, William Aldis had requested to see me, and on learning I was absent, had obtained an interview with Lillian. “¢ What passed between them I know not; but by some means he induced her to leave the house and enter his carriage, which was waiting at the door. ‘“¢And from that time to this I have seen nothing of her.’ “+ But,’ Linterrupted, 3 presume you have obtained some clue, or else why are you taking your present course ?’ “ ¢T have a clue—a very slight one. I am told that he is likely to be found at n place at no great distance, ina very secluded situation, which he has lately purchased, and had fitted uv in a most expensive style. ‘Tt is there that 1 am going—it is there thet I expect to dnd Lillian. So great has been my agitation that i have lost my usual coolness. “¢ Trembling with dread of I knew not what, I started off at once by myself, without bringing anyoue with me, and feeling quite at a loss to know how I should act upon my arrival, supposing I should find my Lillian there.’ “¢T may be excused,’ I said, ‘if I look upon our chance meeting as a fortunate one. Should your suspicions prove correct I will undertake, at all risks, to wrest this girl engaged to @ young officer in the army, who is now at - _ the present time most unfortunately absent from England, though I am every day in expectation of his return. es _ Yong ere this, Lillian would have been his wife had % ot William Aldis most positively and emphatically re- : fused to sanction any such alliance. ___. *¢ fie would give no reason for his refusal, and he vas firm and obstinate. ° Peres s AS guardian, he had this power over his wara uztil ge should attain her majority, and Lillian, whose respect for her father’s memory amounts to veneration, never once thought of acting in defiance of the man who had been left to watch over her. _ *Andso Lieutenant Russell proceeded on the foreign ____ fervice alone, though he had fondly hoped to take dear Lillian withhim. & i “*T believe it would have broken ry heart to have parted with her, but yet I should never have sscrificed her happiness to my own. es “Tt was not long after this that, for the first tinid in = his life, William Aldis became a frequent visitor at our 2 _ residence. ‘s _ **Day after day he was there, and at first i waa p'aased end flattered by hie visits. : ___ * *T soon discovered, however,*#hat he hx? en auerior - OPject in view. Pees IF + ¢ What was, to make Lillian his wife. _._ * His first overtures were made to me, __. * *Y answered that I thought he had no chance ia th __ proszcutioen of his suit, since Lilliau had pledged herself - ad (ECOMAIKCELOVOKO)| KS EEC)