The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 264: what you’re looking at

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

1 ) “‘T have a good cauee and a gracious God on my side.” ‘“ ‘You have now,” said Juxon, “ but one stage more, The is turbulent and troublesome, but it isa short one. It will soon carry you a very great way—it will carry you from earth to heaven.” “I go from a corruptible to an incorruptible crown, where no disturbance can be,” was the last reputed speech of Charles. ‘You are exchanged from a tem to an eternal crown—a good exchange,” was the answer of the bishop. Tben the king took off his cloak, and gave his George* to Juxon, with the single word, . ember !” After this he sto , laid his head across the bleck, and stretched out his hands. Simon Lawless then raised the axe in his powerfal arms, and letting it fall with all his strength, severed the neck at one blow. The short stout man who was called Grego Brandon, and whom Simon had brought wit him from the neighbourhood of the Tower, took up the head and shouted, ‘‘ This is the head of a traitor !” ¢ And where was Blacklock all this time ? Where was Dennis? What were the hired rioters doing, that the shot was not fired which might have changed the destinies of the world ? No sooner had the {king made his appearance on the scaffold, when the pikemen and muske- teers raised their weapons, and formed a complete barrier around it, Evidently, some spy had been at work that morning, There was not a single movement among the crowd. Blacklock became enraged. He had money to earn, he had sworn also to save the king. Ruffian as he was, there was a kind of rude idea of honor about him. © Waiting his opportunity, therefore, he raised his weapon, and pointed it towards the execu- tioner. It was in vain, No sooner was the musket raised than it was struck down. ‘*‘ Madman |” cried a voice near him, “ are you courting your own death ?” Blacklock turned. The speaker was a complete stranger to Black- Oc e ® ‘‘ What want you?” eried the latter. “ Why do you interfere with me ?” “To save your life. See you not that the scaffold is surrounded? See you not that your men are paralysed? Desist, or you will die, not to save the king, but with him,” The man spoke truly. The attempt was useless. « The George was a decoration worn on the king's breast. On one side was St. George and the Dragon, and within a cover a portrait of Henrietta Maria. ¢ In writing an historical romance it is always as well to adhere as far as possible to history. In this accountof the execution of King Charles, we have, of course, included our characters as acting principal parts in the tragic drama ; but as the principal incidents we have followed Knight, telock, Herbert, Sir Philip Warwick, and THE WATCHWORDS OF OLD LONDON. 245 wo he waited and watched for the end like the othera, Presently there was a universal murmur, and looking up he saw the bleeding head aloft just as Charles I. had seen it in vision at St, James’s ! “See,” said the stranger, “what chance would you have had?” “None,” returned Blacklock, gloomily ; “and Dennis, my friend, where is he ?” The stranger laughed. ‘He is in safe custody.” ‘¢ Has he been arrested 7" “Yes; but not upon political grounds,” said the other, still amiling. ‘Come out of this throng, and I will tell you.” They pressed their way as well as they could out of the heaving multitude, and the unknown led the way towards a small inn, not far from the Palace. Among the multitude which was around the Palace the men who had followed Blacklock were lost, and they made no attempt to follow their leader. They arrived, therefore, at the tavern alone. When they had ordered some wine and retired into a little room, the stranger said, “You expected your friend, Dennis, to-day ?” “ Yes, left him, hoping he would bring some men to the rescue,” The unknown smiled sarcastically. ‘Ah! money is strong,” he said, “ but love is stronger.” “How mean you ?” “IT mean this, that when you were with Dennis at the tavern, Floretta, the dancing-girl, saw him.” és Yes,’ ‘“ And she drank with him 7?” 6é Yes,” “ And she observed what money-he had. ” ‘‘How know you this ?” ‘‘ Because I was present.”’ “ And why has this anything to do with this morning ?” ‘¢T will tell you. No sooner had you quitted te side of your friend, than Floretta came up to “¢ Ah, Dennis !’ she said. ‘I thought you had played me false,’ ‘* How so?’ he cried. “¢You told me you were going away upon important business, whereas you were only trying to avoid me.’ *<¢No, no!’ he cried. ‘This is not true. I have never tried to avoid you. I am going on business,’ “<‘Very well, then. If it is business which will bring you profit, I will not detain you long. Come with me for a few moments to the tavern, yonder, and I will tell you something which may save you from some trouble.’ ‘He laughed in his drunken way, and hesita- d, ‘‘She placed her arm in his, and drew him away. ¢¢Come!’ she said. ‘Of what are you afraid ?’ ‘s¢ Afraid |’ he cried, blusteringly. ‘Of what “<T know not,’ exclaimed the girl. ‘I should not have aaid so, had it not seemed to me you Should I be afraid ?” GOVE OO © Cum (c> Ve d a nat ? 1 eS CO