Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 179: what you’re looking at

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

fou have no sort of claim whatever to that of “Indeed, insolent!” she faltered. ‘ But-—_” No doubt she was going to give utterance to some _ threat, but Tom King interrupted her. __ All your plans are known,” he said, “and ef you are -_-wise you will beat an immediate retreat, and be thankful ____ to us for having allowed you the opportunity of doing so. Yes, I repeat, we know every detail of your scheme; we had it from your first and real husband’s lips not many moments since. He has confessed all. Among other things, that you prompted him to take up a position in the wood and assassinate Mr. Roderic here as he passed by. Some one approached, and the dreadful deed was done, the stranger fell; but it was a mistake, and the wretched man discovered afterwards that be had shot down his own son.” A piercing shriek came from the woman’s lips, and it was palpable that only a tremendous eficrt of her power- ful will saved her from swooning. “ Alfred ?” she gasped, half in a whisper. _ “Yes, suchis his name; and if you are speedy you will catch sight of him lying in the lane, near the planta- tion, and your husband with him. Go—quit this roof cae Anas you are able, otherwise you will be ex- e ? FA bached: mortified, and humbled, Mrs. Peterson began to retreat, step by step, backwards towards the door open- ing at the rear of the hall. ‘ Sobs and groans came from her lips; tears, too, rose in her obdurate eyes; but she struggled with all her might against these manifestations of emotion. ~ Yom pointed with his finger towards the door, and un- able any longer to meet the gaze of the two young men, she a ae round, and, opening the door, hastily disap- peared. _“ Now she is gone,” said Tom King, “and this roof is rid of a most unwelcome tenant. Now for your father. _ Let me break the news of your arrival to him. Do not _ enter hastily, the shock will be too great.” Remembering the apartment in which he had formerly seen the baronet, Tom King made his way there once more, and found him seated in the same position in the easy-chair, é But hetook not the slightest notice of Tom’s entrance, and it seemed by his attitude as thouge bs had ~ *, < Jad Cre i ¥ ¥ as he a ae oh “F a yk J * FA Ore “Pe eee Vn ate ‘ ma ‘ "* =. » en f ‘ RY he ahs SEAS «> Wego op h oe St os . = expired. ae The cry that this unexpected sight wrung from Tom ___ King’s lips reached the ears of Roderic, who was listening outside. = With a few sudden bounds, he reached the apartment ; ____ then, comprehending all, he sank down on his knees at his father’s feet. The first shock over, Tom approached, and as he did so he fancied the old man slightly breathed. i Finding quickly that he was not mistaken, he ex- claimed : “Took up, young sir—look up! Such was the case. - The old man had borne up well enough until he heard fais son enter. He had tried to risefrom his chair and bid him welcome, but he was seized by a deathly faintness, and _ gank back, unconscious of the rest. Knowing the scene that would ensue, Tom King, as goon as Sir Ralph was restored to consciousness, retired to another room, where ho sat pondering deeply over this succession of strange erents. | _ ‘There he remained for some time; but at length he was aroused by the entrance of Roderic, why, extanding his hand, said: “Come with me, young sir—come with sce. [ ean never thank you sufficiently for all you have done iu my ' and my father’s behalf; but at present we are strangers to your name. Who isit that we have to thank for thia good service ?” _ “Never mind my name,” said Tom. “It ia one, L -_ ¢rust, unknown to you, and letiftremainso. But if you _ feel yourself under any obligation to me, it will be more than cancelled if you will allow me to remain beneath this roof for a few daye—until, *n fact, my arm is some- _ What better.” . Are you wounded #? He has only faipvted.” arias aes 0 lag eee aac Poe ** ¥ea—only slightly, 2 the left arm; yet it occasions | : RAS SS mo great anguish and inconvenience. Rest is all tiat I require.” “Then you shall have it,” said the impulsive young man, ‘“‘and the best of surgical assistance that we can procure. But come—rhasten with me to Sir Ralph, and let him hear again from, your lips the narrative of all these strazge occurrences ~ Tom King conaplied. But, of course, there is no reed to repeat what was said on this occasion. He availed himself of the opportunity, however, to speak ef Roderic’s sister and ner lover Ernest. By ‘ts Youd that gathered on the old man’s brow, Tom fan‘ied that at any other time than this his inter- cession would have availed little. Now, however, he was unable to refuse any request. The young couple were summoned speedily to the room, and when they entered they were surprised to see how great a change was wrought in Sir Ralph. From the moment that he knew his second wife had left the hall—that there was no fear of her return, and that she had not the shadow of aclaim upon him, he seemed to become a new man—twenty years at the least seemed to be taken off his age. Before the mutual congratulations were over, the un- expected sound of the revolution of carriage wheels made itself heard, and directly afterwards a carriage was drawn up at the chief entrance. ‘Who can this be at so late an hour?” exclaimed the baronet, in great surprise. “T can give you an answer, I think,” said Roderic. ‘Tt is your old friend Richard Grant.” “But at what an extraordinary hour to pay a visit!” ejaculated Sir Ralph. ‘What can be the meaning of it?” “There I am quite as much at a loss as yourself,” re- plied Roderic. ‘' At my earnest solicitations he set out from his own residence, in order to. see you personally in the matter of my return. He was to have made his visit first—in fact, he’ intended to arrive soon after his letter. What can have delayed him until now I cannot think.” At that moment a voice was heard outside in the en- trance-hall, and no sooner did the tones strike upon Tom King’s éars than he gave a sudden start. There was something familiar in them—he was quite confident he had heard that voice before. When, where, or under what circumstances, however, he could not possibly call to mind. Nor was he left much time for speculation. The door was thrown open, and a stout, florid, good- looking, yet rather aged man entered, accompanied by & lady. Tom King shrank back slowly, and endeavoured to get out of sight. , He had recognised the old man at the first glance, and, what was more, remembered under what circumstances he had met him. It was the very gentleman he had met and stopped the night before, and whose grey horse was even then in Tom’s possession. Whether this Mr. Grant would recognise him was another matter; but at any rate, the highwayman resolved to give him no more chance than he could help, so accord- ingly he stooped down over aside table and pretender to be busily engaged in looking at some magnificent coloured pictures in a book. He listened eagerly, nevertheless, to the conversation that ensued. The meeting between them was most cordial, and thu” two old men, who had been parted in friendship for su long, were quite overcome by their feelings. Mrs. Grant, who was with him, was a tall, thin lady, with pinched features, and a general slenderness of out- line. She was of a restless, ever-moving disposition, and quickly engrossed the conversation to herself To such a degree did she rattle on, that scarcely any- one else had a chance of putting in a word. “ And would you believe it, my dear Sir Ralph—anda yet, of course, you will believe it when I tell you—but how surprised you must have been at a visit at such an hour as this. Well—well, quite a long history is con- nected with our delay.” Fag . “ Yos—yes,” said Mr. Grant. interrupting her, trusting Eomichoo (A) <SiGO