The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

4 REYNOLDS’ WORKS “that 1 I can thus forward your aims, I shall be truly de- lighted. But pray explain the peculiar circumstances to which you thus allude.” ‘“T must inform your lordship,” answered Kate, bending down her eyes, while a blush mantled upon her countenance, “that I am engaged to be married to as gallant a sailor as ever dared the perils of the ocean. And a handsome man, too, a generous and kind-hearted one, is Edward Russell. He is the owner of a small trading-vessel, and commands it as its captain. By several voyages up the Mediterranean he has acquired some little property, and when he set out upon | this present voyage, 1t was understood it was to be his last, provided success should still attend his ventures. It appears that poor Ned, anxious by a bold stroke to realize a con- siderable profit ere settling down in married life, freighted his vessel with a quantity of those English goods for which there is always a considerable contraband trade on the coast of Catalonia. It wasin the middle of the night that he en- deavoured to land his cargo about ten miles north of Barce- lona; but it would appear that the revenue officers had obtained an intimation of the design, for Russell and his crew were attacked while landing on the Spanish coast. They made a desperate defence, several of the Spanish officers were killed, but my unfortunate lover was over- powered by numbers and taken prisoner, while his men managed to reach the boat, push 1% off; and effect their escape to the vessel. The vessel itself got away after being chased by some Spanish cruisers, and poor Ned Russell was conducted a prisoner to Barcelona. There he lies in a dun- geon. His trial will shortly come on. Alas! my lord, I dare not even allude to the probable result — or I should rather say the result that is inevitable, unless\ you will kindly interest yourself on our behalf. Yes, our behalf,” added Kate, weeping, ‘‘ because I feel that the death of him would be the death of me — and, oh, such a death, it is madness to think of it!” ‘And you have journeyed all the way from, England to sce your lover?”’ said Don Diego, gazing with admiration upon the heroic young woman. “The moment he was plunged into the gaol at Barcelona,” responded Kate, “‘ he wrote me a letter, breaking as delicately as he could the dreadful intelligence, for poor Ned feared CONNIE OO KS (E(0)