The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 357: what you’re looking at

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

TH E YOUNG APPRENTICE. “ No, Lucy,” he said, * this night I must refuse to stay, even if it gives you sorrow. [havea task before me which I cannot—dare not shrink from. Farewell ; it will not be for long.” “TI feel,” said the girl, leaning her aching brow against the door, “ I feel as if it would be for ever.” He bent down over her, and kissed her lips, and went away; but the }words “for ever!” rung in his ears dismally as he passed along. Again and again he felt as if a voice was calling him back, and a spectral hand beckoning him; bat the words “for ever!” were con- founded with these other words, “you are one of us now !’’ and he went on. Not very far from the house of the old jeweller stood an alehouse, boasting of the feign of the ‘“‘ Three Pigeons.” It was one of those strange, quaintly-built places, whose very memories are now fading away from among us. Its roof was very slanting, and its windows bulged out over the pavement, the panes being small and diamond-shaped, aad murky. Its door seemed to have been cat out specially for the accommodation of small people, and all the ordinary-sized mortals, therefore, who entered were compelled to stoop before they could make their way into the brightly-lit ar, The street in which this strange house was situated was one of the narrowest and most gloomy in the neighbourhood. It was a place of very bad resort, and was avoided, as far as possible, by all the respectable inhabitants of the vicinity, A dark kind of archway admitted to it, over- hung by a large oil lamp, swinging in windy weather dismally in the breeze. Beneath this archway, strange deeds were said to have been committed ; and truly, in ite sombre shade, unnumbered crimes might have lain hidden. It suited well the meetings of the London Apprentices. Even though, in their assemblies, they had no shadow of an evil purpose, it was pleasing to them, as it is pleasing to many, to seem to be surrounded by a mystery. They met, therefore, in a house which had the advantage of a large room, and the dis- advantage of having an entrance which might have shamed a coal-shed. Once in the large room, however, they were provided with every necessary comfort, and were enabled to carry on their meetings in secrecy and quiet. On the evening in question, when Ralph entered the room, there were some two hundred apprentices assembled, He was, in some measure, a leader over them, as had been said by the assassin of Blackheath, and he was greeted with acclamation of wel- come by all within the room. ‘‘ Friends,” he said, as he assumed the chair which was always left for him at the extreme end of the chamber, “I have this night to pro- pose to you something which may change for ever the current of your ideas, and give us all something definite to work for,” They little understood what he was about to call upon them to do. ‘* Speak on,” cried one of them, “and let us know what it is you mean.” Ralph bowed, .“T will,” he said; “but before proceeding, allow me to remind yon of one of the first laws of our sdciety.” “You need not; we know them,” said a voice. ‘Your speech proves that you do not,” re- turned Ralph. ‘“ There is a rule, an inviolable rule in our society, that when a new proposal is made, no voice of assent or dissent shall be given of the proposed objects of such a proceeding.” ‘You are right,” murmured several of the ap tices. “Well, then, I claim my right. This night I reveal my proposition, and on our next meeting you can inform me what your opinion of it is. “We have lived long enough,” he said, “nnder this Puritan Government, which denies a man the right to speak his own mind, We ave seen now the useleasness of the sacrifice which was made when Charles Stuart’s head rolled from the block—we know that there is a young and gallant prince eager to throw kLim- self among you and do battle for his hereditary crown, I have received from Prince Charles an offer, and I place it before you. On a certain day a rising will take place in favour of the Restoration. To you, Apprentices of London, if you will flock to his standard, he promises unnumbered privileges and rewards, ‘Thus simply I place the case before you. “In regard to my own desires in. the matter, I shall say nothing whatever—these I will re- serve till a futare time. “I have spoken freely, because I know that in our honourable society there is no fear of betrayal. “ Kither you consent to join the prince or you refuse ; but whether you do or not, the most inviolable secrecy must be preserved.” He sat down now and gazed around the room. The glance was not by any means a satisfactory one, During his short speech, the conntenances of his hearers had expressed a strange variety of emotions ; and now the Apprentices turned to one another, and conversed together in eager whispers, No public statement of opinion, however, was made, and soon after the assemblage relapsed into its usual occupation of singing, drinking, and merry-making, When midnight approached, the young crafte- men began to move homewards. Almost last went Ralph. He had no desire, in fact, to be observed. He knew well that the mysterious man who so held him in the toils was awaiting him in an adjoining street, and he had no wish that their meeting should be observed. As he glided out, however, he was accosted by one of his companions, who whispered in his ear, “What say you ?” he asked, as he turned and atrove to recognise the features of the speaker. He could see nothing, however. The Apprentice who spoke to him had raised his cloak and succeeded in veiling a greater A cheer arose from all his apprentice friends, | portion of his face. ) } - “= ( ry ae ‘ “ . , os BOTION.—WITH NUMBER 83 WAS GIVEN AWAY ANOTHER BHAUTIFUL : -— = COLOURED PIOTURE, Others will in a few weeks. “QR COME DO OKSEEOM << UU ee —— a cS