The Young Apprentice; or, The Watch-Words of Old London — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

a7 (- THE YOUNG APPRENTICE; OR, “ You recollect the name ?” “Yes, well; Gilbert and Leicester,” he said, as he placed the letter in his bosom. Alicia’s face had now assumed an entirely different character. “Harold,” she said, “you have saved me from utter despair, You have one brooch, there, given you for your bravery andhonour. Accept this other also, which I give to you now with my own hands,”’ As she spoke, she unclasped the delicate dia- mond that held together the bosom of her dress, and clasped it on his breast. Then, stooping down, she kissed hia forehead, saying— ‘‘ Prosper, Harold, as you perform your trust this night.” Just as the words were uttered, there was a smothered cry as of a sob, without the room. Harold's heart leaped with fear. It was Ettie's voice. Of this he felt certain. Rushing to the door, he heard Frank Leslie's voice below giving some directions to Quelf, and up the stairs, gliding slowly, painfully along, was a small, graceful form, which he at once knew to be that of the armourer’s youngest daughter, What did her sorrow mean ? Had she seen him with Alicia, and been jealous of her ? While he was thinking, the armourer ascended the stairs, and entered the room, ‘“ Well, Harold,” he said, “are you tired? Are you going to bed ?”’ “No, sir; Mistress Alicia wishes me to go with a message for her.” “Yes ; he is going across the water for me with a letter,” said Alicia, ‘“ But tell me, what ails Ettie ?” The armourer looked surprised. *‘ Kttie!” he said; “she is quite well. She said downstairs, laughingly, that she was coming up to see Harold, and to tell him of the grand cavalier near Clive House, who presented her with a bouquet of choice flowers,” “It was Alicia’s kiss that changed her,” thought Harold. But he kept his thoughts to himself. To confess his love at his age would have rendered him ridiculous, Speechless, then, with the fulness of his heart, he bowed, and quitted the room, and in a short time was hurrying along towards the “ Bull and Mouth,” the tavern where, upon many former occasions, he had borrowed horses when engaged on similar errands, He had no difficulty_in procuring one, though at so late an hour, In those times, when the whole country was convulsed with civil war, and when news was carried to and fro by the first hand that was held ready to carry it, no one ‘thought of even questioning a messenger as to his route or design. All that was necessary was to pay sufficient money, and be tolerably well known to the pro- prietor. Southwark Bridge was soon passed, and the one mile of road leading to the cross-rosd traversed, All was in darkness, The sign post pointed dismally in three | tions like a mute spectre. The road to the left was distinct enougl ere Haroid had proceeded many hundred he saw the gloomy relic of humanity sw to and fro in the wind. His approach scared away several c birds, which had perched on the top ¢ gibbet, and they flew off in the direction dark old house to which he was going. For a moment he hesitated as he near dismal iron gate, Was it possible that Alicia could be dec him Was it some Royalist trap? But no! And he advanced and rang boldly. The tones of the bell echoed wildly ¢ the ruined walls and the great trees, an few moments the door was thrown ope! tall man clad in the leathern doublet trooper, ‘‘ What want you?” he asked, eyeing I with no favorable eye. ‘“‘T want one Gilbert,” returned Harold, t in spite of the gloonty looks cf the speake The man’s manner changed at once a magic. ‘‘T am he,” he said, in a different voice. * How know I you are the one I seek? Harold. “ See,”? answered the man; “I have letters. Now from whom come you?” “From Alicia Leslie, the daughter « armourer. ‘There is here a letter for Le whom you have confined here, If you this to him here are ten pieces of gold, ar will have ten more to-morrow evening will bring my mistress the answer.” The man seized the money eagerly. ‘Tt shall be donc,” he said. “Tell you tress she may depend on Leicester’s rec this ere morning. And now, my bold you: take my advice. When you leave this do as if satan were behind you, and avoid tk you came. No one who comes to this without being well known, lives to carry his news,” ‘This, then, is the mission in which was no danger,” said Harold, with a laug The man stared. “Te it possible that Mistress Leslie s: thing to you of danger?” he said. “She said so; but I am used to danger, I am in peril to-night, I shall know |! defend myself.’ “Good! You are a brave lad: go on and answer no one on your road,” “Good night,” said Harold, as he ro ‘and thank you for your warning.” The road was very dark. Not a single lamp could be seen. Only the pale moonbeams showed him he was, After a long ride, however, he was j proaching the bridge, when some one chal im, “Whither so fast, my friend?” cried a “ Which is the way to Harley?” Harold made no answer. He remembered his warning, and pus! more eagerly still. , book CO