The Armourer's Apprentice — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

hopes . $ ee. j 7 yeti we , j 1 . , ae ? or F — always Be the swiftost. Give me some ,, 000 mother, and I will be off at <a . A ae good woman went to the euphoard to fetch him the victuals, Rip slipped the “note into Alice’s hand, at the same time ¥ aking at her, and pointing to the dag- . oat milot, Alioiack th acariet ce took the note, and hurrying to her chamber, read it. oh fh, meet, him !* she cried; “he shall “not maere Kngland with out bein g as sured. ¥ 0 “my devotion.” _ ia rw slowly the tins ‘seemed to pass to _ Alice until the app pointed hour arrived. Quickly do: a hooded cloak, she ~~ pup pped out of the house, and hurried to the ni fs Ait ’ Lo _ me a’ 0 iC Pla 26 agreed upon. vot So impatient. was she to sed her lover, the t she did not notice as she made her 2 was yd nm to the river, through a narrow and dark noes that three thick-set, rough- ae ioe aking me 1 followed quickly but stealthily up on 1 her footsteps, and that each one held _ lis swor d drawn beneath his long cloak. a Sh » had just reached the dark shore of _ stream, when some half-dozen men me sked and cloaked stepped up to her. Ob! you have come, Alice,” cried the im one vho appeared to be the leader. “I ) lew you would.” dh Ss The tone was so like that of Stephen that ss she « ould not doubt it, and yet she was at ‘afr: id. “th Re Bt ephen,” she said, “why hast ‘thou ie _ sent for me here ? Why didst thou not ers m ne to the house and bid” our good _ mother farewell?” it, Bee, the ‘Alice. I am to embark to- Pine there are the men waiting for the boat, and yonder is the vessel ob sail : as the tide turns. Even now the 8 ¥ lors are watching to heaye up the --aneh or and drop down the river. Oh, oh! can yi you part from me thus easily?” A. yet Alas | ri “own love!” ‘wept Alice. Pe What can 1 do?” That I love you you kn OW 2 xd I here repeat my oath to be true | Be comforted, my darling! you wu arreti n with honour, ] know: for dis- he fear could never come near you. Think Ge meé, dear, when in tho hour of battle, id know that I would be with you even the 2, for in the hour of danger those who te 107 ve on always be together.” that I would have said to you, ie one failed me. Let us never ome, sweet Alice, fly with me! I am i royal Rae and the captain of id ermit me to take you Dm nan e married at some port ae touch, and then no one 8 ali }tc se arate us.” # S tepl en; never will I consent to ¥ | SH: a T : » ‘ ~ an F s 7 « Me hee eg . 4 ; >, ® F .* . . + 5 . ws ps Ay . * ’ - ’ eh - STEPHEN TO THE RESCUE. < * My m. a3 that,” cried Alice, “My father has been harsh and eruel, but T wlll not deceive hin. My mother hath been all gentleness to both of us. Would you have me leave ~ her alone—a pr ey to the misery caused b the desertion of her only child? I wi never leave her.” “You must!” eried the pipakod man. ee ape will not be thus refused.” And he seized her by the wrist. “Villain!” sereamed Alice, as with a ‘sudden bound she sprang forward and tore the mask from the fellow’s face. “ iI*know ou now. You are George Wynvaek hame on ou thus to decerve a broken. hearted girl! Help—help—help !” _ “Curse you! be qwmet,” hissed George, between his teeth. “I tell you escape is impossible. You must be mine. Silence, or vy Heaven! I will have the gag placed in your mouth. Quick, quick! my mien; envelop her in this cloak, end bear her to the boat.” In -an instant some of the men had thrown a heavy cloak over Alice’s head, and one strong fellow lifted her in his arms and bore her to the boat. But her screams had been heard, and — hurryin down to the boat, came a young ae fellow clad in a complete ‘suit of armour, Ss and grasping in his right hand a gleaming z sword. “Villains!” he cried, “ unhand the girl. | Release her, or, by Heaven! you shall all answer dearly to me.” “Down with the intruder?” — cried George Wynyard, “Down with him! Fifty marks to the man who strikes the villain dead!” : But the maiden had heard the voice, and with the quick ears of love recognized it. Tearing the cloak a little on one side, she Gried, in piteous accents— “Save me—save me, Stephen! I am Alice, thy own true love. Save me!” — = Ha! I know you now, George Wyn- yard,” cried our hero, for he was the new- comer: “and, by- Heaven! thou shalt pay for thy treachery dearly.” Dashing at the men be quickly wounded two mortally, and then found himself face to face with George Wynyard—no mean antagonist, forhe was both a courageous man and one well skilled in the use of weapons, Quickly passing the now ingensible Alice to two Piohts who had stood near the boat, the men rushed back to the assistance of their master, for they saw that Stephen Was attacking him with terrible fury But before they could assist Gone Wyn- ward, Stephen had sent his sword through his heart, and then turned with undi- minished strength and fury on the men. <S GOmicdoo io? €oim tf , cs