The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 243: what you’re looking at

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

THE YOUNG ‘APPRENTICE. He had not been idle of late, although he had been, as it were, concealed. .. He had watched and waited. . He knew well that Max Bowden had re- established himself in the favour of both. Nelly and her father, and he resolved that the Royalist league, in which he was once more a prime mover, should be the means of placing Nelly in such a position that she would not dare to refuse to be his, Clement Morpeth knew well how matters stood. Like all the Royalist conspirators of those days, he was utterly reckless as to what means he employed in achieving his end, He felt that Charles the First held a divine right to be king. The Puritans he regarded as lost beings— heretics and assassins, whom it was but just and proper to destroy. So—though he knew how utterly without heart Quelf was—though he understood that the safety of King Charles was only with him a secondary consideration—though he was well aware that bloodthirsty thoughts mingled with Neelf's patriotism—he was quite willing to use And, in using him, he assumed friendship, On coming from the house of the mounte- bank, he advanced, and linked his arm in that of Quelf, “ All goes well,” he said; “the mountebank has taken’. }.c matter pleasantly,” Quelf laughed, - The mountebank !” he repeated. The Alsatian turned in su rprise. "Why do you laugh ?” be said, é use Harrok Dyser is no more a mounte- bank than you or I,” replied the dwarf, “He is & man of wealth and position, and his influence is courted by all.” “Yet ho permits his daughter to be a atreet dancer.” ‘‘ Yes,” “It seems strange.” ‘S It does ; but it is true neverthelesss ; and by means of this strange behaviour of his, he con- trived to ferret ont secrets which youfand I might spend a lifetime in attempting to discover, and then fail after all,” ‘And will his friends assist us?” “They are sworn to do so. When he agrees you may depend upon two hundred swords be- ones as lane sO-morrow “night at eight,” ed Viement Morpeth, “ we’ meet at the ‘ Gol- den Fleece.’ ” eandiie “ Masked ?” “No, What we are going there to discuss we fear no one understanding.” “ And the password ?” “ Bogland and justice,” At the corner of the dark street they separated, and Peter Quelf the dwarf went exultingly to his home, Meanwhile Max Bowden and Nell y had been enjoying a little time alone. _ She had lain upon his breast and listened to his words of love and his hopes of happiness in the fature, and her young heart had swelled joyously within her fair bosom as she listened NOTICE.—ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL PICTURB, PRINTED IN SEVEN COLOURS, WAS GIVEN AWAY WITH NO. 23. to his eager protestations and submitted to his eager kisses, Their dream of love, however, was soon over. Clement Morpeth being gone, the mountebank ascended the stairs and entered the room. He gazed upon them with a look of pity as it were as he entered. “Max Bowden,” he said, “I wish to have a word with you alone, Nelly, go down stairs into my room, and remain there while we talk . I have something most important to speak of. Nelly rose at once and quitted the room. — Little did she dream of what the conversation was to be, “Max,” sald the mountebank, as soon as they were alone, “you love my daughter ?” “IT do; most sincerely and devotedly,” said Max, “ Then you wish to please me?” “T do—indeed,” “You were here when a stranger Called, a stranger named Clement Morpeth, a friend to King Charles I, This man, thoush unknown to you, is one of my beat friends.” Max turned pale. He saw at once the mountebank's drift. “ Well, sir,” he said, “what then?” __ “You know, Max that I am a strict friend to Charles ?” “Ido. But tell me plainly of what do you Wish to speak.” “Well,” said Harrok Dyser, “you know that I should not allow my daughter to marry one who was connected in any way with these Puritan traitors. If your respect for Cromwell is greater than’your respect for me and Nelly ; if, in fact, you refuse to aid me in saving the kin from their bloodthirsty council who have decide upon his death, you must understand that when you leave this house to-night, you leave it for ever |” For a few moments Max Bowden could not answer. | His heart was too full for utterance. Much as he loved Nelly Dyser, he was too deeply impressed with his own opinion of right to allow himself to be turned from the path of duty by the angry words of the mountcbank. ‘ Mr. Dyser, you would think much less of me if I were, even for your daughter's sake, to change in one moment all my ideas of what is just and right. To my mind Charles Stuart is a traitor. To my mind his execution would bea grand boon to England, and my greatest happi- ness would be to learn that you are of the same opinion as myself.” As the apprentice gave vent to these bold words, the mountebank’s brows contracted. In his own mind he was sorely agitated. Liking Max Bowden as he did, knowing well too, how much his daughter's heart was boun up in him, he was loth to see them disunited. Yet how could he avoid it ? _ He was stern and inflexible in his political opinions. His king to him was like a god. To save him from what ho deemed a gang of demons was his duty—his fate, as it were, to endeavour to rescue him at the risk of his own life and the happiness of all connected with him. Others will follow in a few weeks, GOVE IOO O16S = Ee <2 M » lin