The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

As she spoke Alicia entered. “Fly, dear father, fiy!” she cried. “The house is invested on every side, A company of the Ironsides are in the front of the house, while a number of soldiers have landed from the river and are now crowding into the back The armourer drew himself up proudly. “f am aware of nothing which can make Cromwell accuse me of treachery. As long as I am conscious of having done my duty, I will not shrink from meeting him or his friends, No; I will remain here, let it be what it will.” As he spoke, there was a sound of grounding arms in the back yard, and at the same moment a Joud knocking at the front door. ‘“‘ Harold,” said the armourer, “go and let them in.” “Shall I not rather demand their business from the window?” asked the Young Appren- ce. ‘* Yes, yes,” said Ettie and Alicia at once. “Then in this I will disobey yon, sir,” answered Harold, respectfully. He then approached the window, and leaned ou The space before the house was completely filled with soldiers, Quelf was nowhere to be seen. “What want you, gentlemen!” cried the Young Apprentice. " “ We wish speech with Master Frank Leslie the armourer,” said the officer. “It is late,” returned Harold; “we have closed business for the day,’’ “Our business waite for no one. We. have & warrant to arrest your master for murder. Open, then, or the anger of the Parliament will fall upon you,” Ettie had been leaning on his shoulder listen- ing to the conversation. he now sprang up, and rashed to her father. “Oh | fly—fly, dear father,” she said ; “ there is some terrible mistake here. They have a warrant for marder against you. Fly, for our sakes, while this fatal error is rectified.” “ Xes, yes,” added Alicia; “let our joint en- treaties move you! For our sakes—fly while there is yet time.” “ There is xo time,” cried a voice they well knew—the voice of Quelf the dwarf. And as he spoke, the door was flung open, and a crowd of troopers was sen on the landing. Several entered the room, and presently an officer elbowed his way through them, and, ad- vancing towards the giant, said : as you are Frank Leslie the armourer, are you not ‘Yes, yes, that is he,” cried the dwarf, point- ing to him with a malicious grin. ‘I know him well. He was my master.’’ “J am Frank Leslie,” returned the giant, resolutely, “‘an armourer, and a true friend to Cromwell.” The scene before him—the noble countenance of the colossal man before him—the two beautifal girls, placing their frail bodies before his gigantic form to protect him—impressed the Puritan officer with t. “ Sir,” he said, “it is neither my wish nor my promise to dispute your word. Iam here to do my duty.” THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. ‘‘ Certainly ; perform it.” ‘There are grave charges against you— charges of treason to the Parliament—the be- trayal of state secrets entrusted to your charge, and, worse than these, murder, On the latter charge I arrest you. ‘“‘ Stand back |" cried the Young Apprentice, advancing, “‘atand back ! These are lies invent- ed by that imp of satan Peter Quelf, who stands there now before you. What have you to do with him or he with you? What has the emissary and friend of Lord Raymond, the treacherous spy of the Royalists, in common with the Puritans and Cromwell ?”’ “Youth,” exclaimed the officer, frowning, “yon are too hasty. Lord ymond is no longer a spy of Charles Stuart; he is a friend to Cromwell.” A cry of surprise and anger at the same time from the lips of Frank Leslie and Harold Fordyce. Both the Young Apprentice and his master appreciated the news. “T wish you,” said the giant, “great joy of your new ally. I fear, however, he will prove a thorn in your side which you will find it difficult to pluck out. Come, lead on. Since you have arrested me, and you have Lord Raymond as witness against me, the odds are that my head rolls ere long among the sawdust as so many innocent heads bave rolled before, Harold, put up your sword. Your impetuosity will do me more harm than good.” Reluctantly the Young Apprentice sheathed his sword, The armourer stooped down, kissed his daughters, and gently disengaging himself from their grasp, prepared to go. ‘‘T am ready,” he said, ‘Adieu, Harold. To you I leave the charge of my business until I return, For return I shall, Cromwell is too just a man to be deceived by traitors.”’ Harold ran to him and grasped his hand. ‘“ Adieu, dear master,” he said, ‘‘ and, be as- sured, that all ZJcan do shall be done to save ou.” 7 The armourer pressed his hand, and walked calmly towards the soldiers, ‘Whither do you take me?” said he. ‘To the Tower,” replied the officer. “My men, forward, and look out for surprises,” The room had no sooner been cleared of the troops, than the distorted form of Peter Quelf the dwarf appeared at the door. A loud, discordant laugh first attracted to him the notice of the Young Apprentice and the two weeping girls, ‘‘Ha! ha!” he cried, ‘my revenge is com- mencing at last, You, Harold Fordyce! you, I will next before the Tribunal. Your head shall roll from the scaffold amid the scoffs and jeers of the multitude. And you, Ettie Leelie—you who laughed at me, who scorned me, who were the first to bring disgrace and punish- ment on me—yow shall there to see him as he shrinks from the axe and they drag him howling to the biock. Ha, ha! my vengeance is but commencing. Farewell !” He could not escape thus, however. With a bound Harold sprang towtrds him, and, seizing him by the collar, whirled him into the centre of the room. GOMES O146S (F_-e ) Oo ‘ey, ~w A cat COLT