The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 245: what you’re looking at

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

No. you in a week altered in mind and in aspira- Leave my house now, and let me see tions. There, go. Let us have no more dis- cussion. In one way my mind is made up.” And then, before he had any time to collect his thoughts, he found himself in the street. That night Harrok Dyser received a strange and mysterious note, There was no signature to it, and the hand- writing also was strange. But it seemed trtily from a friend. ‘If you wish to preserve your own life and that of your daughter quit London at once. There is a plot to destroy you. At Ferndale HTouse you know that there is a refuge for you, and it would be well for you, whatever may be your plans, if yon start for that place without delay.” It was with some astonishment that Harrok Dyser read this missive. The letter evidently came from one who knew all his plans, and yet the allusion to Ferndale House seemed stfficient to warrant him in banishing all suspicion of treachery. At Ferndale lived one of his best and oldest friends, and there seemed therefore no object but a friendly one in advising him to retreat thither, — He hastened down to the room into which his daughter had retired. “ Here, Nelly,’’ he said, “is a letter of warn- ing which I have just received.” The girl read it, and then looked up sharply and inquiringly into her father's face. ‘‘And are you going ?” ashe asked. “ Most certainly,” replied the mountebank, ‘‘ May not this be some plan of your enemies?” ‘‘No,” returned her father, “ Maurice Holder is one of my dearest friends, but the fact of our friendship is unknown to that villanous and treacherous crew who have for so long a time been dogging our footsteps.” The young girl thought a moment, as if a sudden idea had struck her, and she was doubt- ing the Propriety of disclosing it. “ And Max Bowden?” she said. ‘“ What of him? Have you told him of your intention ?” The mountebank’s face grew dark as he answered— ‘No, I have not told him. Max Bowden quitted this house to-night before I received the letter. Had he not done so I should never have dreamed of disclosing my plana to one who might betray me.” ‘‘ Betray you?” cried Nelly. ‘He loves me far too well to act treacherously towards my father,” | ‘“‘ Nevertheless,” said Harrok Dyser, ‘“‘I would not trust him. He is the sworn friend of the king’s enemies. He has aided, and would aid again, the men who Would take the life of Charles Stuart, whom I am sworn to protect. At this very moment, as you know, the king's existence hangs upon a thread, The men into whose hands he has fallen have sworn to take nie life, and in this Max Bowden would aid them.” “He might,” said Nelly, “ because hia con- science would teach him that he was doing right, but he would not betray you.” Her father gazed at her with a stern and almost contemptuous glance. THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, “You know not what you say, girl,’’ he said. ‘‘T am one of those who have sworn to save the king from Cromwell—to enter the palace in the dead of night and rescue him from the hands of his enemies, even though Ireton and Nasebrig and all the Ironsides were there to oppose us, In such enterprises as these’ Max Bowden is sworn to defeat us, and should he learn our plans he would only be doing his duty were he to betray us.” “Oh,” cried Nelly earnestly, “he would never betray my father.” The mountebank smiled gloomily. “You little understand these things,” he said. ‘In such perilous times the ties of kindred and friendship, and even love itself, are subservient to the calls of political duty. But I will say no more now. To-morrow evening I will arrange all matters with the king’s friends, and after the meeting has taken place, you must prepare to start for Ferndale at once.” Nelly knew well that it was useless at that monient to say more. She therefore said good-night to her father, and passed into her own chamber. She had scarcely entered her room and turned the key in the lock, when there was a slight tap at the window, Remembering the hideous scenes which had taken place in the old house, when Peter Quelf and his companions had run riot like demons from chamber to chamber, the young girl naturally started with alarm. There was no place outside the window where any one could stand, and approaching the case- ment, therefore, she listened for a second signal. Her own love suggeated that it might bea signal from Max, who she knew would be loth to quit the house without a parting word to her. In a few moments there was again a sound as if a small stone had been thrown up against the glass from the street. Carefully and noiseleasly lifting up the sash, Nelly tooked out. “Who is there?” she cried, hardly trusting her voice above a whisper. ‘‘ Tt is J, Max,” cried her lover from the street, “ your father would not allow me to say fare- W nad ‘‘ Wait for one moment,” said Nelly, “and I will throw a letter down to you; keep good watch around you to make sure that yon are not observed.” In a few moments she had witten hastily, with a pencil, the address of Maurice Holder. Having done this, she.once more approached the window, dropped the missive upon the pavement below, and quickly closed the sash, The next evening, Harrok Dyser proceeded to the “Golden Fleece ’”’ to keep his appointment with Clement Morpeth and the rest of the Royalist conspirators. - At eleven o'clock at night he returned home in a coach, drawn by two powerful horses. ‘There is a plot, Nelly,’’ said he, entering the room hurredly, and s ing without any pre-e paration, “ there is a plot to take you from me, and place you again in the power of that villain, Quelf. A coach is at the door, lose no time in getting yourself ready to start. I believe that, ere midnight, this house; will be attacked or entered stealthily by Quelf and his friends, GOVE OOO