The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 305: what you’re looking at

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

CO 284 A dank, unwholesome place, unfit for human habitation. We will not pause to describe it. We have introduced our readers oftentimes into places of similar character, and by imagin- ing the very worst of these, it is easy to imagine this one, , The story of his capture was a strange one. Ettie was asleep when the house was entered atealthily by the marauders. Lady Grace Cowley, who was in league with them, and who was in constant communication, moreover, with Lord Raymond, knew well where Harold Fordyce was confined, and she resolved, therefore, that the armourer should share the same fate. She had sworn, as will be rememberd, a deadly vengeance against both, She was now determined to accomplish it, The armourer, surprised by a dozen foes, was allowed no time to try the issue of a combat. Before he knew well what was occurring, his eyes were bandaged, his mouth gagged, his huge limbs fettered, He was thus, of course, as helpless as a child, and it was not long before he was placed in a coach, and hurried away towards the north, Lady Grace Cowley had had abundant chances of destroying him. She was reserving him for a purpose. She knew Harold Fordyce to be in the power of Lord Raymond. She desired to bring them to her house to- gether, so that she might gloat over the hideous punishment which she had reserved for both, One evening she entered the cell. Behind her was a trooper, Bat she dismissed him at once, and took from his hand the light he carried. “You can go,” she said, “I am quite safe here.” The man obeyed. As soon as he had gone, she set the lamp down upon a bench, and gazed triumphantly at her prisoner, The armourer was helpless, His arma and legs also were chained, ‘* You are in my power,” she said. “Iam, fiend in woman’s shape,” replied the armourer, ‘* Miscall me as you will,” replied the lady, smiling, “ I have been injured by you in former days, and I have now the opportunity of re- venging myself.” “ Take it, then,” ‘‘ [shall as soon as Harold Fordyce is in my power,”’ “Is Harold free, then ?” exclaimed the ar- mourer, exultingly, “ He is not ; he is in the power of Lord Ray- mond, and will soon be here to join you.” The armourer's countenance fell at once, With Harold free, he feared nothing. With Harold in fetters, his case was, indeed, hopeless.| Lady Grace thought a moment, Then she said, “ You know, I presume, why I desire Harold's destruction.” “ T do not.” He killed my lover,” “ In fair fight.” THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, “ T own it; bat, nevertheless, he killed him; that is enough. But there is another reason,” “ And what is that ?” ‘I love Harold.” The armourer gazed at her in amazement, He had heard from the Young Apprentice that she had expressed a love for him; but it seemed truly beyond all conception that she should, after the fearful ‘rebuffs she had received, still preserve her insane passion. “ You love Harold?” he repeated. ** I do.” “ And does he know this ?” “ He does, and scorns me,” ‘Is not that enough to do away with any passion you may feel 7” The beautiful evil one pressed her hand over her fair white bosom, . “‘ Alas |” she said, with a deep sigh. ‘Alas! it makes my passion burn all the stronger. Now, will you earn your liberty ?” “In what way ?” “Oh ! fear not,” she cried, “ fear not ! I shall not ask you to do anything dishonourable, I merely wish you to plead to him for me—to try to win him for me.’ The armourer shook his head. * No, no,” he said, “ that would be dishonour- able.” ‘* How so?” “ Because he loves my daughter,” replied Frank Leslie, stoutly. ‘“‘ And if he were to marry another it would break her heart. No, no, Lady Grace, I would not win freedom on such terms as yours.” Lady Grace turned deadly pale, . “ Very well,” she said, “very well. I will leave you to your fate. One day more you shall have to consider, and then—death !” The armourer bowed his head, ‘Good I" he said. “I shall leave a noble protector for my daughter in Harold Fordyce," ‘ Lady Grace heaved a sigh. For her most deadly enemy whose destruction she had sworn, she had contracted a most strange and mysterious passion, as has been seen, and the idea of his marriage with another aroused in her mind the moat terrible feelings of sorrow. Your daughter shall never marry Harold Fordyce,” she answered, ‘You ferget that he is in the power of Lord Raymond, and will soon be here.” “I do not forget,” returned the armourer : “but I trust in that Providence which has ao often saved him,” Lady Grace said no more; but turned to go. On reaching the door, however, she once more spoke. “You are making your own doom,’’ she cried. ' Not so,” said the armourer, “ [ simply am refusing to work out my own freedom by sealing the doom of others.” “Then remain and die!’ she said, with a savage intonation, The door was in another moment opened, and she passed out, leaving the brave armourer in utter dark ness, T'wo days more passed, GOVE OOO