The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 251: what you’re looking at

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

‘s 2332 ‘© IT did; but, listen, and I will tell you r/y he left, He told your father how he loved you, and he was laughed at, jeered at, and told that he was a beggar. He resolved to carry you away, marry you when yon and he were of a proper age, and make a fortune meanwhile.” “ And yet he never came near me,” ‘No; but, listen. He thought that Nelly loved him.” ‘s She did, as a brother.” ‘ Yes; but that love was not what he wanted. He fancied that your smiles and your embraces meant something warmer than they really cid, So, with this conviction, he left his room the night of the day when your father refueed him, and crept towards your chamber.” “‘ Where was this?” “In an old inn in the country. The wood of the corridor was rotten, and as he crept along the floor creaked. - “He reached your room, however, unper- ceived, and had just time to glance in. “There he saw you. You were then nearly seventeen, lying asleep in your bed, and he thought he had never seen anything so beauti- fal, ‘¢ Jost as he was about to enter and tell you how he loved you, and entreat of you to fly with him, your father seized him by his collar. “¢ What,’ he cried, ‘what are you doing in my daughter's room ?’ “ Lionel was taken aback. “ The position was a crnel one. . ‘‘ Yet how could he make your angry father understand it? ‘ He endeavoured to give an explanation ; but there was no chance given him. ‘¢ He was struck down by a heavy blow ; and when he recovered his senses, he found himeelf lying bleeding in a lonely road. “ This was 8 cruel punishment.” “ Yes, if you tell the story right.” ‘I do—I do, When he rose from the ground, stunned and senseless. he vowed a vow to de- stroy your father, and to marry you in spite of him—in spite of yourself.” He spoke in such a tone of fiefce energy that she trembled. He laughed loudly. ‘Ah! Nelly! he said. “ You tremble now —you know me!” “You? you?” ‘“ Yea, you know me—Lionel Darlingford. You see I have come back to keep my vow to crush your father, and to marry you in spite of your- self, The young girl endeavoured to release her d But he held it tightly. “Ah!” be cried, triumphantly, “TI thought at that time that you loved me. I find that you did not ; that while I fancied [ had won your heart, you loved another—Max Bowden, who is now in the next room, in my powcr. Aye, tremble; in my power.” ‘And now,” said the girl, in a faint vuice, “that I have listened to your mad story, tell me what is required of me ?” Clement Morpeth laughed. “To m you in spite of yourself, is m wish,” he said, ‘and my determination ; there- fore, why should you ask me such a question ? MOTIO“.— AM BHA THE YOUNG APPRENTICE. You are here wholly and solely in my power. You are, like the queen, whom your father so loves, a Catholic. To-morrow morning a priest will come to this place to nnite us, Refuse, and Max Bowden dies |” “ You cannot, will not, make this cruel com- ” murmured Nelly. “T shall keep my word,” replied Clement. For a moment Nelly did not answer a word. Her cheeks were pale, her eyes flashed, and her pretty bosom heaved violently with the in- tensity of her emotion. Suddenly she looked up. ‘¢ Why do you include Max in this crnel com- pact P” she asked. “ Because I reach you through him,” * Dastard !”” ‘‘No—only one who keeps his vow.’’ “ And do yon call this love?” ‘Who that saw you now, with your tender, flashing eyes, and your pretty form dilated with emotion, could doubt the fact that I loved you ? No, no, I love you; fear not that. It was be- cause I loved you that I made the vow, and because | love you still that I shall keep it.” Will nothing—nothing but this satisfy yon ?” cried Nelly, passionately. “No. The priest will come in the morning.” ‘‘T will refuse you before him. I will claim his protection.” “Good ; if you refuse me, I shall dismiss him, and say that I quite misunderstood your wishes. No force will be employed ; fear me not in that respect. But, if you do thus refuse, within one hour after the departure of the priest, Maxi- milian Bowden shall die a horrible death in your presence.”’ The cruel gleam of his eyes, the cold harshness of his voice, left no doubt in her mind that he meant all he threatened. Her womanly nature at once gave way. She threw herself on her knees before him. “ Oh, Lionel !” she cried, wrenching away the hand he had detained so long a prisoner, “if you have a human heart within your breast, do not use these hideous threats to mé, &8 woman—a weak, defenceleas young girl, rather! Oh, pity me and him! I love him, Lionel! It is not for you to blame me. How can I help or resist my love? Nature gives us this instinct; I have followed it, and Max Bowden is the one to whom I feel myself drawn, Ob, think, Lionel—”’ He interrupted her. “Call me not Lionel!” he cried, fiercely ; ‘that name is buried in the past. I am no longer Lionel, the mountebank’s assistant. I am Clement Morpeth, the friend of Lord Hamil- ton and the King. poor boy, but Clement Morpeth, the rich man. I am accounted ao, at least, and I intend that your father's hoarded wealth shall keep up the illusion.” “Oh, mercy, Clement !"’ she continued, still on her knees. “ Oh, for the love you pretend to bear me, have a little merey, and do not talk of forcing me into a marriage which is abhorrent to every feeling of decency I . IT cannot—will not be your wife! Iwill rather die by the side of him I love! Therefore, yield to my prayer graciously, and do not seek my utter and certain est raction |” GOVE OOO I am no longer Lionel, the . OTHER UTIFUL PIOTURE, PRINTED WAS GIVEN AWAY WITH No, 23. Others will follow in a few weeks. <S)