Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

PO 88 and even dangerous aspect which his wife’s illness assumed, for he was more attached to ber than husbands are to their wives generally. . ‘The poor lady never rallied. She lingered for some time, but, in spite of all that medical science could do, she died, and her husband became disconsolate.”’ “Upon thus hearing the fate of tho mother shy was destined never to know, the tears thronged thickly in the eyes of Edgworth Bess and trickled down her cheeks. ‘¢The little one, however, which, unlike its parents, was healthy and robust, still lived, and this afforded the bereaved husband the greatest consolation, and, as she grew older, centred in her’ the affection he had previously felt for her mother. He doated upon her in the fullest acceptation of the word.” “My poor—poor father,” said Edgworth Bess, with a fresh outburst of sorrow. ‘‘ And am I never to know him ?” ‘ He is dead,” said Blueskin, avoiding a direct reply to her question. ; A pause now of some few moments duration ensued. It was Jack who spoke. That probably was because he was the one least under the dominion of painful emotions. “Come,” he said, “do not be so downcast. Blueskin. Let us bear the rest.”’ “The worst part of the story is now to come,” he replied ; “ by far the worst part, as you shall hear.” These words caused Edgworth Bess to look up with re- newed curiosity. ‘Tt will disclose that which I have never uttered to mortal—what has made me what Iam. What I refused to tell you, Jack, on more than one occasion.” ‘¢ T know you did.” “Tord Donmull, my master, then, doated on_ his daughter, but adverse fate had not yet done with him. One morning the child disappeared.”’ ‘“‘ Disappeared ?”’ “Yes, and no trace was left to show where it had gone. My master was like a madman. In vain every means which could be tried was made available, all was without result, except that suspicion fell upon two persons.” “Two persons ?”’ ‘Veg, Tom Sheppard and myself.” : ‘ And how was that?” “ By the machinations of Abel Donmull. We were had up, but, although nothing could be proved against us, yet the suspicion which had been attached to our characters was unremoved. We were forced to quit that service in which we had been so happy. Vainly we both tried to elsewhere obtain employment. The story spread—we were refused—and, to save ourselves from starvation, were driven into crime.” “Good heavens !”’ ‘“T need not tell you that we were innocent both in thought and deed. Utttearied were our efforts to find the lost one, for we hoped, in the event of our succeeding, all would yet be well; but all was vain, and at last we gave up the search in despair. ‘You are both now in possession of facts of which I was then and for long after ignorant. Grief prematurely hurried Lord Donmull to the tomb. You have already cm aes .4_ Go on, learned the conditions of the will. His brother Abel is now in possession of the title and estates.” Edgworth Bess and Jack Sheppard now comprehended al). ‘Then this uncle of mine must be a very wicked man,” she said. ‘He and I have an account to settle,” replied Blueskin, ‘“and woe to him when the day of reckoning arrives.” The tone of his voice was gloomy and threatening. ‘He has much to answer for,” he said. ‘‘ Thank God, that part of his villainy which doomed you to death was unfulfilled ! ”’ ‘Between us we can surely overthrow him,” said Jack Sheppard. Blueskin shook his head. “The task will be a difficult one,” he said, “a very difficult one. He is bold and unscrupulous himself, and will obtain bold and unserupulousagents. Unfortunately, we are not so well situated to defend her as we might be.” ‘You have already done more than ever I can repay you for—much more,’ replied Edgworth Bess, *“ but iy fete) Fun grea 0 pepe Er I~ a BLUESKIN : A ROMANCE. there is one thing you have not told me, and that is my name. Is it Elizabeth P”’ *TItis Lady Elizabeth Donmull.” The title sounded strange to her, and when he heard it Jack seemed to feel a barrier rise up betweeu him and the object of his affections. ‘““I hope,’ she said, for with a woman’s quickness of perception, she read what was passing in Jack’s mind. “ I hope that to both of you at least I shall never be anything but Edgworth Bess.” You have your mother’s disposition,’ replied Blue- skin. ‘‘She was an angel! May your fate be happier than her’s.” Alas! this was a hope that was destined not to be ful- filled. However, our readers must peruse the strange story of her fortunes to the end, when one of the most oe of domestic tragedies will be made patent to them. ** Do not let me ask this of you in vain ?”’ she continued. ‘* Promise me, Jack,” she said, as she put her band upon his shoulder, ‘‘ promise me that you will never think of or call me by any other name.” T will—I do!” **T don’t know whether it’s right of Jack,” said Blue- skin, ‘‘ to make love to you in that kind of way. You must recollect that his position in hfe is very different to yours.” ‘Yes; that is it,’ replied Jack. it is not right.” “ Jack,” said Bess, reproachfully, ‘‘I do not deserve this; I recollect only that he is my preserver from death, or some still worse fate.” “Well, I hope you will be happy. You will be, if I can make you so! I can tell you this though, Jonathan Wild is a man who is to be dreaded as an enemy.” ‘Pho! pho!” saidtJack. ‘* I don’t feel afraid of him ; I] have always beaten him yet. Listen. I will tell you what took place after you left me with him.” Jack Sheppard then, without further preface, proceeded to relate those facts with whieh the reader has already been made acquainted. How Jonathan endeavoured to persuade Jack to join him in the nefarious scheme against the heiress, how he had refused, how he had been cast into a cell. ‘Then how he overheard the conversation between Wild and Sir Marmaduke Osborn. The manner in which he entered the baronet’s cell, overcame Wild, and set free the unfortunate victim of his rapacity. Their singular adventures on the river, and at last the baronet’s decease. To all this Blueskin listened with the greatest conceivable interest, and when Jack concluded his narra- tion, he said— “For all this, and the wound he received to-night, Wild will seek a bitter vengeance. I tremble for the ** JT too can feel that result.” “Pho! pho!” “You will find it no light matter. He is a desperate villain !”’ ‘TJ do not fear him !” **] never doubted your courage, but you must admit that I know him much better than you do.”’ ‘“* Granted.” ‘‘Then I say to you, in all earnestaess, beware ! have a difficult and a dangerous part to chances are all against our being successful. “Not for the sake of all the riches in the world, then,” said Hdgworth Bess, ‘ shall you incur this danger on my account. You have done enough already.” ‘“ No—no! besides which, we fight for justice. My poor master’s memory, although he died thinking badly of me, demands it. By doing this, is the only way of atoning for the crimes of which I have been guilty,” “Tam content to leave my inheritance in the hands of those who hold it,’’ said Edgworth Bess. “I heve never known wealth and luxury, and therefore do nat fee! heir loss. Let him remain.” . “And do you think,” said Blueskin, solemnly, “ that by such a course as that you are acting rightly. I mean with justice to yourself and your dead ‘eee No, I am sure you do not. Right is mght! but wrong is no man’s right,” We play, and the Ey, OE es ioe 5 ta ies ia aller ee mag! iia Ng. Site ake EH (SO) CloOOO|KKS.€O > ae