The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 273: what you’re looking at

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

{ C y Fr - 252 = - oe changing his purpose, and strode back further beneath the gateway. Alicia saw that she had made a mistake. It was not the first occasion upon which she had lost a chance of success, by indulging in hot tempers. She, therefore, swallowed, as well asshe could, the affront put upon her by the trooper, and once more approached him. He eyed her contemptuously as she came to- wards him, Well he might. Before, her manner and her attitude were haughty in the extreme. Now, she was as humble as she could be. “ Sir,” ashe said, ‘I am rich, and I can pay well for services.” ‘‘IT accept no bribes,” he said. ‘You have just received one.” “But not for acting the traitor. gave you information.” “And now I ask you another service, which will be of the most vital importance to me, but which will not involve you in any treachery.” “ Speak then.” “T wish to lie here concealed,” ‘For what p ad “ To see the prisoner.” You will not be able to speak to him.” “No matter. If I see him—if I recognise his face—that will be enough.” The man thought a moment, Then he sai tite ay you know that this may cost me my e 99 “No, it will not. There is no fear for you. Behind yonder buttress I can conceal myself, so that no one can detect my presence. Say that you will remain there. I swear to be still. And ere is a golden coin. Another is yours, also, when he has passed into the Tower.” The man hesitated, He was a Puritan and a Roundhead, But he was mortal also. _In his home there were beings who looked to him for help and comfort, and money, of course, would enable him to procure for them the necessities and even the comforts of life. “You will pay me well ?” he said, “J will.” | “And you will conceal yourself where no one will see you ?” 6 Yes,” ‘Go, then, behind that buttress, Give me the gold coin, and be quiet.” Bagerly Alicia again’ slid her hand into her bosom, and drew forth her purse. “Here,” she said, ‘here is a gold piece ; and now for secrecy.” So saying, she glided away, and concealed herself behind the dark buttress, She had some time to wait. The cold night air, and the solemn stillness of the precincts of the old Tower, made it ap- pear even longer than it was in reality. But at length the tramp~—tramp—tramp of soldiers steadily advancing could be heard in the Ce, “They come,”? murmured Alicia, as she preased her hands over her heaving becora. Slowly nearer came the sound. Oh ! how anxiously she waited ! I merely | Ole Ss ——<— THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, oe . o » a @ = - .S Nearer and nearer came the tramp of the advancing host ; and presently, by the dull light of the Tower lamps, she could see the gleaming spears of some troopera approaching the Tower. Eagerly she watched. In a few moments the guard approached, and among the ranks of the Puritan soldiers she could see the figure of Leicester. Forgotten then was all prudence. Forgotten then was all the promises she had made to the trooper. She only remembered that the one she loved was near her—that she had now a chance of speaking to him, and that this chance might never again occur to her. Springing forward, therefore, she rushed in among the guards before they could see the approach of any one, and clasped Leicester to her heart. He kissed her, and then putting her back from him, gazed in fear around him. ‘Why did you come here,” he said; “ here, in the very face of danger? Go, Alicia, while there is time,” “But you, Leicester, you are in deadly il 1" “T know it. My end is the block.” The young girl wrung her hands. She knew him to be a false traitor; but she did not know the extent of his villanies, and she loved him passionately. “Oh! do not speak thus, Leicester,” she cried. “You strike me to the very heart. Give me some hope—some hope |” ‘There is none, I fear.” “Come, come!” cried the man in charge of the troop. “ Come, come, time presses, madam ; we must beg you to leave the prisoner.”’ He bent down towards her. ‘‘ Alicia,” he said, “you do yourself no good by being here, and you may do me harm. Leave me now; no doubt I shall see you again soon,” As he spoke, she held up her lips to him to kiss, and she pressed a packet into his hand, saying— “ A secret—keep it.” Then he passed on, and the iron-bound doors of the Tower soon closed him from her sight. On reaching the cell, he glanced at the packet. Tt was a small phial, containing the moat deadly poison. With it was a letter, containing these brief words :— ‘DEAREST LX¥ICESTER,—If the worst comes, and no cacape is pessible, I send you this, in order that the axe of the executioner not be the means of your death. If I cannot make e happy, I can, at least, give you the chance of an honourable death. + Auscta." “Brave girl!” muttered the wretched man, “‘ J wish I were worthier of her.” And now, since my Lord Leicester is thus confined in the dismal London fortress, where is Prince Charles? The next chapter will show. GOVE OO © S (O *)\ eS CO 6 ur : >. “py! ‘