The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

“ Coward,” cried the Young Apprentice, as he flang his arm around the waist of the young girl he was protecting, “turn and fight for your life, for this time only flight shall save you from me,” The dwarf sprang forward. The sight of the young girl leaning con- fidingly and nestling upon the bosom of his greatest foe, enraged him to the highest pitch, and he dashed impetuously upon his foe. But the Young Apprentice was ready for him. Holding the betrothed of Max Bowden back, he wielded his aword with such effect that it was not leng ere Quel’, wounded and weakened, drew back. “ Accursed wretch!” he yelled, “you shall not escape me, I will bring my friends hither to destroy you !” Loudly he shouted again and again. But it was all in vain, Max Bowden, at the head of his followers, _ Was now to be seen driving the Alsatians before them. “Ha! they fly |” exclaimed Harold Fordyce, “Follow them, accursed imp !” He dashed forward as he spoke, But thera was no need for it. With a loud curse, Quelf ran away throu gh the trees, leaving pretty Nelly Dyser fainting on the breast of the Young Apprentice, As soon as a!l was quiet again, Nelly raised herself and looked round; ‘‘Where is Max?” she asked. “See, there be comes,” said Harold : “he is advancing at the head of his victorious friends.” In a few moments Max had rushed to the spot, and flang himself on Nelly’s bosom, ‘Oh, Nelly,” he cried, “thank Heaven I am with you again. Brave friend,” he added, “brave Harold, how can I thank you?” Harold smiled. ‘‘Save Ettie for me when she is in danger, and hurry your betrothed as socn as possible from this spot, where a hundred treacherous enemies may soon surround us,” Within an hour Nelly Dyser was com fortably housed in the home of Maximilian Bowden. His mother gladly accorded her a lodging, and all that day the lovers had the time un- interruptedly to themselves, With evening, however, when Harold had taken his departure, there came Lennox Lawler, a dark-browed, dark-looking apprentice, a friend of Quelf’s, who had contrived to weave his web tightly around Maximilian’s heart. Max was scarcely pleased at his appearance, “You come unexpectedly,” he said, as he quitted the side of his betrothed, and walked apart, ‘Not 20,” said Lennox; “this is the night, the 15th.” " Max passed his hand over his brow. “Ab, truly,” he cried, ‘this is the day, and yet time seems to have glided by so slowly. Oh, this very night, it may be fortune or ruin to me.” “No ruin,” said Lawler, “ Z will lend you the money, and the game is certain. Come, make your adieux, for the way is long,” Max quickly said farewell. : a 4 ® -_ THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. 155 => Oh, how he would have shrunk from doing s0, how he would have shrunk from leaving them, if he had known into what a labyrinth of ruin and misfortune he would plunge himself and his friends ! In a few minntes, however, he had quitted the house, and was making his way with his “friend” towards the fashionable gambling saloon where he was to make his fortune ! CHAPTER XXIII. WHICH SHOWS HOW A LONDON APPRENTICE AND A NOBLEMAN MEET IN A GAMING SALOON. ARRIVED at the house, Max Bowden drank off the goblet of wine which Lennox forced upon his acceptance, and entered the room of play. It was a richly-carpeted chamber, bright with frequent lights, and renderéd still more beauti- ful by paintings of rich, voluptuous kinds upon both ceilings and walls. Kvery one was engaged in play save ore, who stood by the fire, gazing indifferently round him. ‘There is your man,” whispered Lennox, As he spoke, he pointed to the stranger. “T know his face well,” said Max, “and yet I cannot recall where I have seen it,” ‘“No doubt you hare seen him. him,” “Introduce me, then.” “It is not necessary. Try him, and he will consent,” . Max timidly approached the stranger, ‘Will you play, sir?” he asked, “ Yes, if you wish it,” returned he, languidly, sitting down to a table, At a sign, a noiseless attendant glided up, and produced a pack of cards, ‘TI like to play for mere excitement,” said the stranger, “so we will play this way, if you please. Any lengthened game is tedious. Let us have the pack before us, and each draw twelve cards, and then shuffle the whole again. You shall pay for all one colour, and I will pay for all the other,” “ That is quite fair,’’ said Max. “ Necessarily so. Take which colour you please,”’ ‘‘ Red, then.” “Good, Then, Oh! Genius of Black, befriend me,” We will not follow the fluctuations of the game, which was about as clear a specimen of mbling as any two rational beings could sit flown to; suffice it to say that Max won sur- prisingly. The genius of good fortune seemed to hover over him. He had begutt with his fifty pounds. In the space of half an hour he was the possessor of three thousand ! His heart beat high ; his brain reeled. What could not this procure for him ? Nelly could now be his wife—the mountobank was not living to oppose their union. He could return in the morning to the place where he had left her, and, telling her of his good fortune, he could entreat her to become his own at once, Play with GONUEHO OS 4 er ; ae ‘ CO