The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 295: what you’re looking at

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

A ee a a a SG <I TD — aw amGieen > ay almost to suffocate him; and a tear trickled down each cheek. The -minded man who would have scorned to weep for himself, was melted into tenderest feeling as the conviction smote him that he was saved through Kate, and that sho at this moment was happy ! On came the horseman amidst the crowd which parted to afford him a passage,—closing however again immediately behind the heels of the jaded horse. On he came—that man so covered with dust—eo travel-worn, that his nearest and dearest friends would not have recognized him at the time! On he came, amidst the plaudits of the crowd, with the pardon in his right hand! Although he saw full well that his mission was understood— although he saw likewise that he came not quite too late,—yet did he urge the staggering, panting, labouring animal on, until the steps of the scaffold were reached : and then, the instant he pulled in the horse, it dropped down heavily, blood gushing from ite mouth and speedily turning into crimson the masses of white foam so thickly gathered there. The horseman was so exhausted that he had not sufficient energy nor ity to vault from the steed as it fell; and he lay beneath it. A dozen eager hands were in & moment stretched forth to extricate him from his dire peril; and this was accomplished to the sati¢faction of those who lent their assistance, because they perceived that he The pardon was handed up to the notary, who at once read it and made known its nature. The ¥ranciscan priest who spoke English, and who was in reality a well-meaning kind-hearted man, hestened to communicate to Edward Ruseoll that | i the document contained a full and unconditional pardon. In a moment the cords that bound his arms were severed—he was free: and the next instant his hand was warmly and fervidly by Don Diego Christoval—the wearied and travel- .worn horseman. Then shoutsof applause rent the skies; and the name of the Count being mentioned as that of the bearer of the pardon, the warm- hearted Spanish nobleman found himeelf as much the object of enthusiastic interest as he whom he had come to save. Let us pass over a few hours. It was evening— and in a well-furnished apartment at the principal hotel at Barcelona, two persons were awaiting the arrival of athird. The table was spread for dinner : the light of the candles was seflected by a goodly display of plate—bottles of champagne were cool- ing in ice: it was evident that this was to bea hanquet to be partaken of under no ordinary cir- cumstances, although but three were to sit down to it. One of the two persons was Count Chris- toval; and he lay reclining upon the sofa, still much exhausted. The other was Ned Russell, who was walking to and fro in a kind of delighted im- patience,—every minute going to the window to see whether the chaise was approaching that was to bear Kate to his arms. He was apparelled in an entirely new suit of clothes which Don Diego had lent him, and which set off his fine form to the fullest advantage which such well-cut garments were calculated ta produce. So full of elysian animation was his countenance, that whateocever ravages imprisonment might have produced thereon, were lost in that enthusiastic glow. It was soven o'clock; and according to Count ~ 2m, ae Ow we 0 ay GEE © ETS ere EE PU, THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. Christoval’s computation, Kate might be expected every moment. It will be remembered that the despatch she had sent off by the second courier, and which was addressed to his lordship, contained a note for Ned Russell, telling him when she | aiould depart from Madrid, and that she should travel as quick as possible to join him in Barcelona. Thus was it known that she could not be much longer ere she made her appearance. Nor was she. se Chaise Presently came along the street : it stopped at the entrance of the hotel—Rassell waited not to observe who alighted—but darting from the room, he precipitated himself down the stairs; and cries of joy echoed in the hall as he and his beloved Kate were elasped‘in each other’s arms. Oh! that wasa joyous meeting,—sa meet- ing such as neither of them can ever forget for the remainder of their lives! Nearly. nine years have elapsed (at the time this narrative is written) them fraught with ineffable feelings; it comes back to them like a delicious harmony stealing over the ocean of the past—it comes back to them like a strain of heavenly music, and ever productive of chastening sentiments, making’ them wiser and better, and » if pousible, the love which they bear for each other and which can know no ceasing. But let us not anticipate. Ned Russell con- ducted Kate Marshall up into the room where Don herself at Don Christoval’s feet : she took his hand —she pressed it to her lips—she tried to she could not : her emotions overpowered her. Bust he understood all that the woman meant to express: his tears showed that he thus comprehended her. They sat down to the banquet ; and though they were but three, it was as joyous and happy an one as if there had been a hundred guests vowed to unalloyed hilarity. The champagne was drunk; and when the feast was over, Miss Marshall recited her adventures in fall, from the moment she parted with Don Diego Christovel in Catalonia, until the instant the par- don was placed in her hands. Ned Russell shud- dered when he thus heard of all that his beloved had gone of ty leer paler eae nearly lost her life in the forest, and what indigni- ties she had suffered at the hands of the Minister of the Fntesior. But they all three commented hghtly and gently upon these latter circumstances : for Kate had come harmless and unscathed through the fiery ordeal which had threatened to brand her chastity; and the Minister had made as much atonement ag a man could render for a grievous MD eo ne which however was not, after all, ¢ On the following day Don Diego Christoval, Ned Russell, and Kate Marshall, by a young Englishwoman who happened to be at the hotel, and was desirous to return to her native country,—set out in a post-chaise on their way to France. The young woman was a nursery-povernces, who had come to Barcelona with an English family, but whom she had left in consequence of ill-usage. aun a a CC CE —C—C—C—C_—C—C——_—_—_—_—_—_—_—C—C—CC—C_— —__—_—_—___—_—_—_—_—_—_—_—_ OOO ew (GO) iC 5 DOO CS (COL