The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 313: what you’re looking at

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

f \ a Vy me Nena! (Fe > — Br 292 THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, slowly conscious of existence ; and noises having aroused him somewhat before the fall power of the powder had been exhausted, his ideas were for several minutes wild and unconnected. Strange visions floated before him ; and slowly his senses recovered their pristine excellence. Aloud shout from the inner chamber did much towards awakening him, and the ap- pearance of a noble looking man, of middle age, who rushed from it, holding in his hafid a bracelet which had the preceding evening derived beauty from clasping the wrist of Ettie, also contributed much to arouse his faculties, ‘“‘ She has been here! She has been here !” distractedly exclaimed this personage, gazing on the bracelet, ‘follow me, friends, she cannot be far away.” He rushed from the hut, and two or three attendante, who had likwise issued from the inner chamber, and the man who had guarded the door, quickly vanished after their leader. Their disappearance seemed the signal for Harold's becoming perfectly sensible, He now roee, and pressing his burning fore- head, he shouted, “ Do I dream?” so loudly, that it is utterly impossible to surmise why they who had just left did not hear the exclamation. “Am I awake ?” pursued the wretched lover, as he burst into the room in which his mistress had reposed ; and ocular demonstration fatally convinced him she had disappeared. “ Kttie! Ettie! speak and save me from dis- traction |" No voice responded to his anguished cry, and he cast himself on the ground in utter despair. A very few minutes, however, beheld him rise from the ground to all appearance an altered man. The soldiers of Cromwell were taught to avoid all tamultuaous feelings. Emotions of all kinds, save fanatical reven ge on their enemies, were forbidden them. In this anguish moment, Harold’s education came to his aid, and ideas of revenge—deep revenge, probably saved him, unused as he was to disappointment, from distraction, “Idiot | fool that am! Was it not evident the inhabitants of this place were Cavaliers ? And what could I expect from royalty but de- ception and treachery? I have siumbered on my post, and they have profited by my folly; but let them beware—Harold Fordyce is neither child nor churchman, calmly to receive an in- jury.” . _Let it not be supposed that he stood unocon- pied while thus giving vent to his feelings. Far from it. , He uttered the sentences coolly, and with intervals between, during which time he em- ployed himeelf in charging his piatols, and ving replaced them in his belt, he drew his sword and rushed from the hovel. He surveyed the quiet waters which spread unrufiled before him, as though mocking his im- patience, and the sails of the smuggler’s vessel speedily caught his eye. He advanced to the cliff, and the sound of 7 neon excited his attention, " € Jeant over the dizzy height, and the form of his beloved Ettie met. his agar gaze, as did likewise those of Clifford and his companion, os They were watching anxiously a boat which rapidly neared the shore, and which was rowed by a man whom Harold recognised as being one of those he had seen in the cottage, He rushed along the edge of the cliff, and surveyed it with the keen accustomed eye of a soldier, endeavouring to discover some path by means of which he might descend to the beach. Nor was it long ere the jutting crag attracted his attention. He pushed it slightly and it moved. He forced it rudely from its position, and the carefully concealed path became visible. Down he sprang, and with dexterous, yet speedy step, he sought the spot where stood his Ettie. The boat now touched the shore, and Hans having nodded assent to the inquiring looks of Clifford, as to the success of his errand, placed a board from the shore to the boat, and with great astonishment did Harold behold Ettie atep on it, not unwillingly, but with joy. “ Kttie ! Ettie!’’ he shouted, “ would you leave me ?” A loud scream escaped her, and quickly turning she beheld her lover springing from crag to crag with dangerous rapidity, and violently waving his sword which gleamed brightly in the rising gun, ‘Merciful heavens, how is this?” she ex- claimed. “ Lady,” answered Clifford, who now perceived that speed or force could alone secure his prize, “ J cannot pause to answer questions, you mast come with me,” And seizing her in his arms, he attempted to bear her into the boat. Again her screams were echoed, aud she struggled so violently, that forced to relinquieh her, lest the fragile board on which they stood should give way, he snatched the sword which Richard had drawn. ‘Since you will have it so, your lover dies.”’ And he rushed to meet Harold, who, panting with rage and ire, yet exhausted by the rapidity of his descent, could scarce summon sufficient strength to defend himself against the fierce . and masterly attack of Clifford, who fought with a determination which showed him alike sessed of will to retain, and skill to defend is prize. ‘In a few passes the sword of Harold was forced from his hand, and staggering back three or four paces, his foot slipping, he fell upon the strand. ; Clifford pressed forward, but Ettie, escaping from the gentle kold of Richard, rushed forward and caught his arm. ‘‘ Hold, monster! Woulds’t thou destroy a fallen adversary ?”’ ‘* Intercede not for me, Ettie, I can save you _yet —die villain !” And he drew a pistol from his belt, and pre- sented it at Olifford. Another moment would have beheld him stretched lifeless upon the ground, had not Richard, who had closely followed Ettie, in turn caught his avenging arm. “* Pause, sir, pause! In him you seek to destroy—behold your king !"” ‘‘ T scorn,” said Charles—for it was indeed that ever thoughtless and vicious monarch—“ to \G book