The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 333: what you’re looking at

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

It was not altogether surprise that overcame him, nor was it altogether chagrin at finding that the lovely Alicia had escaped him. It will be, no doubt, recollected that Blacklock had, at the instigation of Leicester, or of his own devilish ingenuity, drugged a certain flask of Burgundy, with the hope and expectation that Sir Henry would partake of the same, and so lapse into oblivion of what was passing around him in the house during the abduction of Alicia. The wary old lawyer though, had absolutely refused to drink anything that was handed to him by Blacklock, so the flask remained, so far as he was concerned, untouched, But Lord Leicester had very indiscreetly, when he found his way into the lower room of Sir Henry's house, indulged himself with a deep draught of wine from a decanter that he found upon the table. That wine ha ed to be the very drugged Burgundy that Blacklock had in vain, more than once, placed by the elbow of the old knight for the purpose of inducing him to drink of its narootie contents, Thus it will be seen that Lord Leicester, in every way, fell into the snare that he had laid for another. . The opiate that Blacklock had placed in the wine took some time before it laid sufficient hold of the system of Leicester to make it evident to him that something was amias ; and, indeed, it was not till he staggered into the chair in the bridal chamber of Alicia, that he began to suspect something was amiss with him. “ Heavens ! what is this?” he said, as he held up his hands. “The room is going round and round. I cannot see clearly. <A thousand strange visions are before my eyes, and there is a drowsy hum in my ears as if a mill were at work around my head, There is a cloud before my eyes. Alicia ! Alicia ! where are you f” As he spoke, his head sunk upon his chest, and he became insensible. . With slow and measured steps, Sir Henry, with young Changeling, ascended the grand stair- case of his house. ‘‘ Nay, Rupert !” he said, “thisis a strange bridal, and you must come and bid good evening to Alicia before you go.” . ‘If you wish it, good sir; and then I will post to the old Manor House in Berkshire and cep close there nntil I hear from you,” * Do so, unti] you hear from me, my good friend. Iam still in the hope that times will change for the better soon, and that the reign of the new government will be put an end to by an act of general amnesty in the favour of aj] who have had any hand in opposing the Com- monwealth, When that isthe case I hope that you and I will look back to the events that have taken place this night more with curiosity than “Yes, sir; and we shall have se much to thank you for.” ‘Not at all; not at all.” “Oh, yes, we—I speak of myself and Alicia. To you I owe everything, If it had not been for you I should still have remained an ap- prentice ; and if it had not also been for you Alicia would never have been rescued from the evil thoughts and evil companions who were fast compassing her ruin. How bitterly she THE YOUNG APPRENTICE. . regrets now her mad infatuation for Leicester you know well; and her greatest consolation is that she failed to work her vengeance against Simon Lawless. I hope that little affair of mine with Leicester in the garden will be the end of all attempts against her.” “It will; he was the prime mover in the ‘‘T hope that the finding of his body and that of B ock in the garden will not involve you in trouble, Sir Henry ?" for who can tell that I ‘It will not, Ru had anything to do with it? But go, Rupert ; say good night to Alicia, for you must go at once, it is not safe for you to remain here, though I must say it is a sorry bridal to leave your bride thus,” “ Let us hope it is all for the best.” ‘¢ Let us hope so, indeed.” They had by this time reached the landing- place at the top of the old-fashioned, but richly- donigned and ornamented flight of stairs, and Sir Henry tapped at the door of the suite of rooms which had been fitted up for Alicia, There was no reply. ‘*She surely has not retired to rest,’’ said Rupert Changeling. No, no. The dear child would not go with- out my blessing, and my adien for the night,” said Sir Henry. ‘‘ How thankful I am the day is over, and that no one suspects the real mar- riage that has taken placein this house. As my seeming wife—as Lady Hastings, she must be safe against all parties, and so she will be serene and happy till better times.” re She wilt, air ; ned 80 shall Ls a e old man again at Oor, But all was still A shade of serious apprehension passed over his face, and his voice shook a little as he said, It is not possible anything is amiss with her, Surely the anxiety and the excitement of the day have not made the child ill ?’”’ ‘‘ Sir,” said Rupert, “ we must not stand here upon further ceremony. I will open the door at once.” Rupert did so without much trouble, for it seemed as if some im attempt had been made on the inside to fasten it. “ Good heavens !” he cried. ‘‘ What can have happened? Alicia! Alicia! Alicia! I say, oh ! spear tome! It is I—Rupert! Speak, if you ve 9 All was atill. The lamp was giving but a feeble light, as it hang from the ceiling of the firat chamber. Old Sir Henry turned very pale, and was obliged to hold by the back of a chair for sup- port. Young Rupert, too, shook fearfully ; but he took a wax candle from the table, and lit it by the lamp, and then, without another word, he rushed into the next apartment, Sir Henry did not follow for an instant ; but he heard the young man utter a cry of surprise and terror. “ She is dead !’’ said the old man. “ The dear child muat be deaa !” “ Sir Henry !” cried Rupert. hither !” ‘‘ Ob, sir, come se ' os . | ‘ aul - ~ YY -”} _” pf NOTION.—ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL COLOURED PIOTURE WAS GIVEN AWAY NG) wo WITH NO. 33, Others will followins few weeks, _ . GONE DOO OKSEGO