Penny Dreadfuls, 1916 · page 259 of 400
Tom Anderson, Dare-Devil: A Young Virginian in the Revolution — page 259: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Page from "The Duel" (Page 241) This is a page of running prose from a Victorian penny dreadful novel titled *The Duel*. The text describes a clandestine nighttime gathering in a church where characters prepare for what appears to be a secret wedding. Tom and Rory hide while observing others—including men in military dress—arriving at the altar. The narrative builds suspense as two officers are identified as Sir Æneas and Colonel Francis Lloyd, with Tom's reaction suggesting an unexpected revelation is about to occur.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE DuEL 241 since the night Ishmael went away from Oxheart! Pinck- ney St. John sprang over the chancel-rail, and taper after taper glittered out of the darkness. “Must be a runaway match, Major,” whispered Tom. “Look at the flowers everywhere. And the boy’s in full dress; for the wedding.” Ben ‘Taliaferro, speaking not a word, moved about sedately, kindling wax lights. The third member of the party, up to his ears in a handsome military cloak, leaned against a column; he was penciling something on a tiny ivory fan. Every instant Pinckney’s lustrous figure started out of the gloom in the light of a fresh flame. Standing tiptoe on the back of a pew, to reach a candelabra, he called out, ““How’s this, Captain’?”’ and then he hissed out, “Hark!— Here they come!” Leaping down _ noiselessly he took a dignified position beside the man he called Cap- tain. The church door opened cautiously. Lo, two more cloaked figures — striding up the aisle. Tom whispered in Rory’s ear. “What the devil?” “Eh, sirs!”’ grumbled Rory. “’Pis a sorry weddin’ wi out a bride! I wad na tak muckle pairt 1’ sic a like wed- din’ mysen! Na, na.” “Oh, that’s the groom and his best man. She'll be here directly, white as a bay-blossom, and pretty as the Beauty of Charleston.” ‘To my een it’s mair like a wake than a weddin’, lad- die. Nane the less, there’s candles enow tae licht up a’ the wakes 1° the parish — frae now till Barnaby-Bright.” The altar and the open space before it were brilliantly illuminated: elsewhere, twilight, deepening to impene- trable gloom. In vain did the two in hiding listen for the roll of wheels. ‘he newcomers proceeded to lay aside their cloaks; the light revealing the gold and vermilion of re- splendent regimentals. Tom ejaculated, “Sir A‘neas!”’ hag And the ither officer is Colonel Francis O a2 5 But who —” ‘Tom’s whisper died in his throat. Who CONNICLIOO® SS (C(O) mn