Black Bess; or, the Knight of the Road — page 378: what you’re looking at

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

Pre aw 1750 BLACK BESS; OR, tel “But 1 must not linger. In brief, we reached London, and then I met this nephew of whom I[ spoke, and who I now learned had, in consequeace of my mother’s death become my guardian. 2 “When I saw him first 1 shuddered involuntarily. I knew not why, for there was nothing extraordinary or repulsive in his manner or appearance, and I felt as} ama ef my sensations. ‘He took me at once toa macnificent house a litte way from London, and ina few days he began to make proposals of marriage t) me. “I felt assured that it was not love for ms which prompted him to take this course. “Tt was merely in order that he might not lose the monoy and estates. *T at once replied firmly in the zegative, and posi- tively assured him that his suit was useless. But he took not the least notice of my denial, and urged upon me that it was my grandfatler’s last wish that re should be united. ‘‘This consideration had not the least weight with me; indeed, as I had never beard of this before, [ believed it to be neither more nor less than a fabrication made to answer his own ends and purposes. ‘“‘ He little thought, perhaps, that [ was one who would not be moved from a course resolved upon. Even had he prepossessed me favourably, instead of the reverse, his suit would have been equally in vain, for—for—there— there—was——” ‘Another ?” said ‘T'om, perceiving her hesitation. “Yes, one whom I had known from childhood—my constant playmate—one that I loved dearer than life—the only son of my father’s dearest friend, and, like my father, a native Indian prince. “We were affianced before my departure from the laud of my birth, and he promised to follow me here with all speed.” ‘And has he done so ?” * Yes, and on his appearaneo my guardian grew furious. Hecalled him a barbarian, and declared that his consent shculd never be given to such a union, and accordingly began by preventing all communication be- tween us. ‘‘ At the same time he took prompt measures to coerce me into a marriage with himself. I resisted to the utmost of my ability; but it availed little, his power was so much greater than mine. ; “At last, soon after sunset yesterday, I was suddenly surprised by the entrance of many persons into my cham- ver, which, though a luxuriously appointed one, was wevertheless tome nothing more than a dungeon, for I was not allowed on any pretext to leave it. “Twas amazed at what I saw, and fora little while was quite unable to comprehend it. “But I soon discovered that every preparation had been made for the performance of the marriage ceremony. ‘“In spite of my entreaties, remonstrances, and resist- ance, a mockery of the solemn service was gone through. Those persons who were present were clearly mere tools of my villanous guardian’s. In a few moments I was declared a wife, the ceremony being pronounced a legal and a binding one—indeed, all those present were willing to swear such was the case. “This overwhelmed me quite, and I burst into a frantic passion of tears. “My guardian approached me with an exuliant senile upon his lips. “*Fool!’ he said. ‘Did you for a moment think that 3 should suffer myself to be reduced to beggary by srch a ore as you are? No, no! Learn now, if you were ignorant of it before, that you are irrevocably mine!’ “His words rang in my ears like wu death-knell. 1 was overcome, and in a faint voice murmured a request to the effect that I might be left alone. “¢ Willingly,’ he said. ‘You need be under no fear that I shall trouble you much with my company. My end now is achieved, and I am content.’ ‘“ With these words, ho left me. “I sank down distracted. “What was I to do? “T felt that the time had not yet altogether passed away for me to make resistance, and, imrressed with this ronviction, I sprang to my feet. : “T darted at once to the door of my chamber. a ee A , ath te re —* a “For the first time for a long while, it was unfastened. When I found it yield easily to my hand, I could scarcely believe in the reality of so much good fortune. “Without pausing to consider, however, I passad cut, wondering all the while whether in his excitemeat my guardian had forgotten his habitual caution, vr whether he believed that 1 was now hopelessly and for ever in bis power. * Bo this how it may, I descended the staircase with a fast-beating heart. ‘*T was so fortunate as to reaca the foot of it unheard-~ unsosen. “here was a door close by opening into the garden; I gained it, passed out, and finally got quite clear of the “ Before I had time to run far—for I fled with all the speed I was capable of making, though chance alono directed my footsteps—I became conscious that my fight had peex discovered and a pursuit commenced. “T had not time to think which way I should go—to me all roads were the same, so that they led me away from my hatcful prison. - “My strength, however, quickly failed me, and I almost gave myself up for lost. ‘‘ My pursuers were coming on rapidly behind me. “ But in India I had had to fly more than once, and therefore knew what stratagem to put into execution. “ Observing a dark place in the road, I concealed my- self behind the bushes that grew there, forcing myseif among their roots, and lying so closely on the ground that I felt certain nothing but a rigid search coltld dis- cover me. | | ‘‘Batmy pursuers rode on without dreaming I should put any such stratagem into practice; and as soon as ever they were out of hearing, I rose again, and swiftly retraced my steps, for then I knew that I was getting away from them at a double speed. “ Pre long, I felt certain, they would guess what I had done; but before that I hoped to be on the road to a place of safety. ‘Not to detain you longer, I can say that all this night I have been pursued, with difficulty keeping out of their hands. I was just congratulating myself that I had shaken them off at last when I perceived you, and, of course, at once took you for one of my foes.” “A very natural mistake,” said Tom. “ Yell me,” she continued, with greater earnestnesg than she had before employed—“ tell me where 1 am to go— what lam to do!” This was a matter not easily decided. Tom looked thoughtful. He began to feel that he had incurred @ Very Serious responsibility. V'he more he thought over his position, the more his embarrassment increased. ‘‘ Ts there no friend under whose protection I can place you ?” he asked, at length. “None whatever. Iam a total stranger in England.” Tom looked more perplexed still. Just then ho felt ho had quite enouch to do to look after his own safety without being bardened by any- one. Still, his werd having been given, he felt also that ha could not ran back from it. What added to his embarrassment very considerably, however, was the fact that the Indian girl kept her full black lustrous eyes bent upon his faca. Suddenly, however, she started up. A strange cry escaped her lips—a cry that echoed far and wide over the mist-covered meadows, Shen, in shrill tones of great excitement, she cried, clasping her hands together; “ Zariel—Zaricl—Zariel !” G@HAPTER MXXXIV. FEE POLICE GFFICERS KEEP CLOSE UPON TOM’S TRACS. it would be easy enough to say that T’om King was very much startled and surprised at this sudden change in the manner of the Indian girl, but then those words would be vory far iudeed from conveying a just conception ef his amazement, Her hands were clasped together, and her arms cet whe premises. f comicbooks.cor ? a ‘