The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 240: what you’re looking at

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

a Discarding the mask which he had worn during his stay at the palace, he proceeded on at a rapid pace, looking neither to the right nor left, but making towards that house near the i ower which contained all that was dear to him in life. He had not walked far, however, when he became conscious that he was followed. _A light footatep, it was like that of a young girl, And yet, when he gazed round, nothing was be seen. ‘It is fancy,” he murmured, and passed on his way once more, But again came the sound. Quicker and quicker. For some time he held on his way deter- minedly, Bat, on reaching a place where the dull light of an oil-lamp illumined the atreet, he stopped and remained stationary, with his hand on the hilt of his sword, and bis face turned towards the place whence the sounds proceeded, The sounds advanced nearer and nearer now, and, as they came closer, he could see the form of a woman approaching him, She hurried more on seeing that he had stopped, and, when she had reached the spot where he stooJ, he saw that she was masked. “Simon Lawless,” she said, “I desire a word with you.” He glanced at her in surprise, She was evidently young. Her hair was brown —a bright, glossy brown— and her tight-fitting dress gave evidences of a plump, rounded figure, and a beautifully moulded ust; not that of a woman of mature years, but that of a young maiden just budding into womanhood. Her form and her voice were both unknown to him, At any rate they were 80 disguised as to be unrecognisable. “ What is it you wish for?” he said, ‘T have something here for you,” she answered ; “it is from one who has no oppor- tunity of speaking with you; who has not the chance of telling you how much she admires you in the pist, and how much she hopes from you in the future,” ‘¢ Indeed !” said Simon, with bitterness. “ May I not even know my fair friend’s name ?” ‘“T cannot—I dare not reveal it,” cried the lady, eagerly. ‘‘But I may say that what she sends you this token for mostly, is your punish- ment of Leicester,” ‘‘ Is he dead?” ssked Simon. ‘‘He is not; but he will never more draw sword against any.” ‘‘And what is this token ?” “A ring—an emerald ring. See, here it is, The device which is on it is short and simple— ‘FROM THE FAITHFUL TO THE FAITHFUL. ” She offered it to him in a graceful, winning manner, i its green stone glittered brightly ia the lamp- ght. Yet he hesitated to accept it. What if it were a trap | What if it were some new invention of his enemies to lure him to destruction |! “What do you fear?” she asked, in a sweet, tender voice. | T fear treachery.”’ She withdrew her hand, ‘Treachery |’ she said, in a tone of depreca- tion; “then pray do not accept it. The one from whom I bring the token would be loth, indeed, to force it upon you. Whatis given in good faith she would not wish to be taken with suspicion,” “ ‘What proof have I?” “A lady’s word—a lady’s honour,” returned the mysterious woman ; “but I will say no more. When next the Man Without a Name crosses your path, tell him the motto which I have read to you, and ask him whether you did right to refuse the symbol of friendship.” Simon Lawless hesitated no longer, Again Destiny swayed him, “J am fated,” thought he, ‘to be the one who is to rid England of ita tyrant, and this ring can have no power to harm me.” “Give it to me, lady,” he said, aloud ; ‘*I will wear it in good faith !” The lady offered it once more, and Simon took it, and placed it on his finger. ‘I will wear this, as I have said,” he repeated, “and may this hand which has given it me feel for ever this kiss upon it burning—burning until it is withered and worn away, if you deceive me,” He raised her hand as he spoke, and imprinted upon it a kiss. . Then he turned and went. The lady watched him until he disappeared. * Ab {” she muttered; “ah! Simon Lawless, the seal of death is now upon you, I fear not now that my revenge will not be completed.” Simon walked on unconscious of evil, and took his way towards his home once more, Leaving him to pursue his path, with the wing of the Destroying Angel hovering, as it were, over him, we must beg our readers to accompany ue to the house of Harrok Dyser, the mounte- ank. We have never yet explained to our readers how it was that the old man was restored to ife. It will be remembered that when Peter Quelf the dwarf committed his wholesale murders in the mountebank’s house, Harrok Dyser him- self was supposed to be killed, or, at any rate, to be mortally wounded. His body was thrown into the boat, and he was carried, wounded and bleeding, down the river. Life, however, was strong within him. When left at last by his captora, to die or re- cover, as he might, in the old dilapidated barn, where they assembled, after the hideous scene of murder and plunder, he contrived to crawl away, and having made his way to a farm-house, he was tended with every care, and was at length restored sufficiently to proceed to London. Nelly, when rescued by Harold Fordyce and Max Bowden from the clutches of Peter Quelf, the dwarf, was placed, as our readers will recol- lect, in the house of Bowden's mother, and it was not until the meeting on London Bridge—when Harrok Dyser saved Max from the crime which a false friend endeavoured to put upon him—that he knew where his daughter was. GOVE OOO LL SE, a? THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. 221 ~ A CO