Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 190 — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

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The surgeon therefore could determine neither its direc- tion nor itsdepth; but from the pulse of his patient, he concluded that the case was not very serious, In the morning, under the pretence that she had not | Amidst the ht, and had need of repose, her | oe during the ladyship dismissed the woman who had watched beside | the She entertained a hope that Felton would | visit her at breakfast time. But Felton came not. Had, | then, her secret fears been realized? Had Felton be- come suspected by the baron, and would he fail her, now, at the decisive moment? She had only one day remaining. Lord de Winter had fixed her embarkation for the twenty-third, and this was the morning of the twenty-second—Nevertheless, she still waited in tolera- ble patience till the hour of dinner. though she had eaten nothing in the morning, her dinner was brought to her at the usual time; and her | ladyship then perceived with alarm that the uniform of the soldiers who guarded her was discharged. She hazarded a question as to what had become of Felton. The answer was, that Felton had departed on horseback, an hour before. She inquired whether the baron was still in the castle; and the soldier replied that he was, and had ordered him to let her know if the prisoner should express a wish to speak to him. Her ladyship said she was too weak at present, and | that her only wish was to remain alone. The soldier then quitted the room, leaving the dinner | on the table. Felton, then, had been sent away, and the marines who guarded her were changed. It was obvious, there- | fore, that Felton was distrusted. This was the last blow inflicted on the prisoner. As soon as she was left alone, her ladyship arose. That bed, to which she had confined herself in order that it might be thonght her wound was serious, scorched her like a glowing furnace. She cast a glance at the door; a board had been nailed over the wicket, The baron, no donbt, feared that she might, through this opening, | ——— still find some diabol means of seducing her gua ladyship smiled with joy. She could now give way to her emotions without obser- vation, She roamed about her chamber with all the | violence of rhe gon eye or of — imprisoned | in her iron — ad the knife still been there, she | would certainly have resolved to kill, not herself alone, Her At six o’clock Lord de Winter entered. He was armed to the very teeth. This man, in whom her ladyship had hitherto seen only an elegant and polished gentleman, had now become an inexorable gaoler. He seemed to foresée everything, to conjecture agg to antici- everything. Asingle glance at her ladyship {told what was g in her soul. **So,”’ said he, ** you will not kill me to-day, for you d. You had begun to corrupt my poor Fenton: he as already felt your infernal influence, but I wish to save him, and you shall see him no more, Itis all end- ed now: you may collect your clothes, for to-morrow ou will set out. I had fixed the embarkation for the d4th, but I have reflected that the sooner it takes place the surer it will be. By twelve o'clock to-morrow, I shall receive the order for your banishment, signed by Buckingham. If you say a single word,to any one whatever, before you are on board the vessel, my ser- geant will blow out your brains; he has received orders so todo. If, when on board, you speak to any without the captain’s permission, the captatn will have you cast into the sea. This is all determined on. And now, farewell till our next meeting: L have nothing more to | say toyou to-day. I shall see you again to-morrow, to take leave of you.” At these words, the baron left the room. Her ladyship had listened to this threatening tirade with a smile of scorn upon her lips, and with fury in her heart. The supper was brought in. Her ladyship felt that she needed strength, for she knew not what might be the events of that night, which was now approaching in gloom. Huge clouds were already careering in_ the skies, and distant flashes harbingered a tempest. About ten o'clock the storm burst forth; and her ladyship found some consolation in seeing nature partake of the commotion in her own breast. The thunder bel- lowed in the air like the angry passions in her soul; and it seemed to her as if the passing gusts disturbed her brow, a8 they did the trees of which they bent down the branches swept off the leaves. She howled like the tempest, but her voice was unheard amidst the vast voice of nature, which also appeared to be itself groaning in despair. From time to time she looked at a ring which she wore upon her finger. The bezel of this ring contained a sub and violent poison—this was her last re- source! Suddenly she heard something strike against the window; and, by the light of the flash, she saw A \ \the countenance of a man appear its bars. She ran to the window and o i *Felton!’’ she exclaimed, ‘‘ I am saved!" “ Yes,” said Felton, ‘but silence! silence! I must have time to rer your nai her Pf, careful that we are n v rough the sec Qhiit isa token that the Lord {4 on our sd, Fel r ladyship; “ they 7 ae wicket with a board!” THE THREE GUARDSMEN. ** Good!" said Felton. ‘* Our God has deprived them of their senses!”’ **But what must I do?’’ inquired her ladyship. Cyan Bererig > only shut your window. Go to bed; or, at any rate, liedown with yourclothes on; and, when I have finished, I will tap upon the glass. But will te be able to accompany me?’ ** Oh, yes!” ** But your wonnd?”’ **Pains me, but does not prevent me walking.’ ** Be my a then, at the first siznal.”’ Her lady ip closed the window, put out herlamp as Felton had advised, and threw herself upon the bed. ng of the storm, she heard the grating of the file against the bars, and by the light of every flash she beheld the form of Felton bebind the glass. She passed an hour in almost breathless suspense; icy drops stood upon her brow; and at every sound that issued from the corridor, her heart was convulsed with frightful agony.—There are hours which seem ee into years. At the expiration of this time, Felton again tapped. Her ladyship bounced from her bed, and opened the window; the removal of two bars, had formed an opening large enough to admit a man. ** Are you ready?’’ demanded Felton. ‘Yes. Must I carry anything away with me?” ** Money—if you have any.” ‘** Fortunately, they have left me what I had.”’ ‘So much the better; for I have used all mine in freighting a vessel." ** Here!” said her ladyship, placing in Felton'’s hand a bag of gold. a ton took the bag, and threw it to the foot of the wall, ‘** Now," said he, “ will you come?” ‘** Here I am.”’ Her ladyship mounted on a chair, and passed the up- per part of her body through the window, She saw the young officer suspended over the abyss by a ladder of ropes. Forthe first time a sentiment of fear reminded her that she wasa woman. The void terrified her. **] was afraid it would be so," said Felton. ‘It is nothing—it is nothing,’’ exclaimed her lady- ship: ‘I will descend with my eyes shut.” ** Have you confidence in me? ** Need you ask me!”’ “Then put your two hands together, and cross them. That's right.” Felton fastened the two wrists with his handkerchief, and then bound acord aboveit. - “What are you doing?’ demanded her ladyship, in surprise. ’ Fp your arms round my neck, and do not be raid. ‘But I shall make yon lose your balance, and we shall both be dashed to pieces."’ ‘** Do not alarm yourself; I am a sailor.”’ There was not 2 moment to be lost. Her ladyship passed her arms around Felton’s neck, and allowed her- self to glide through the window. Felton began to descend the ladder slowly, step by step. In spite of the weight of the two bodies, the blast of the hurricane rocked them in the air. Sudden- ly Felton paused. ** What is the matter?’ demanded her ladyship. ‘**Silence!"’ said Felton, “ I hear footsteps.” ** We are discovered!"’ There was silence for a few moments. **No,"’ said Felton, ‘‘it is nothing." ** Bat what is that noise?"’ ‘“It is the patrol, who are about to pass on their round.”’ ‘ ** And which way do they take?"’ ** Immediately beneath us.*’ “Then we shall be discovered.” ‘No, if there should be no lightning.’ ** They will strike against the bottom of the ladder.” ‘** Fortunately, it is too short by six feet." “There they are! My God!" “Silence!” They both remained suspended—motionless, and scarcely even venturing to breathe, at a height of twen- _ ty feet above the ground, whilst the soldiers passed be- neath them, laughing and talking. It was a fearful moment for the fugitives! The patrol passed by.. They heard the sound of their retreating steps, and the mur- mur of their voices, which oredualis became weaker in the distance. ** Now,”’ said Felton, ** we are saved!" Her ladyship breathed a sigh, and fainted. Felton continued to descend, Having reached the bottom of the ladder, and finding no further support for his feet, he now descended by his hands, until he clung to the last step, when my toy, himself by the strength of his wrists, he found that his feet touched the ground. He eoned up the bag of gold, which he took between his teeth; and raising her ladyship in his arms, retreated ty ed in a direction opeoase to that which the rol had taken. Leaving the line of the ard, he plan down amidst the rocks; and, when 1e had reached the seashore, he whistled. His signal was replied to in a similar manner; and, in five minutes afterwards, a boat pon ep manned by four men. The boat approached the shore; but there was too great adepth of water for it to be run aground. Felton waded into the sea up to his waist, not wishing to en- trust his precious burden to any other hands. Fortu- nately the tempest was beginning to abate, although the sea was still violent. The little boat bounded on the waves like a nutshell. ** To the sloop!’ said Felton, ‘and pull quickly.” The four men bent themselves to their work; but the sea was too heavy for their oars to make much way. Nevertheless, they began to leave the castle behind them; and that was the peace! aim. The night was rofoundly dark, and it was already almost impossible or them to perceive the shore; much less could any one upon the shore be able to perceive their boat. A black speck was rocking on the sea. It was the sloop. a — ee Re ssl sss setlists ttt —$— ———— TT Whilst the boat was advancing towards it with all the force of its four rowers, Felton unbound the cord and the handkerchief which confined her ladyship’s hande. Then, when her hands were once more at liberty, he took some sea-water, and sprinkled it upon her face.— Her ladyship heaved a nigh, and opened her eyes. ‘Where am I?” said she, ** Saved,” pues the young officer. “Oh! saved! saved!” exclaimed she. ‘Yes, I see the heavens and theocean. This air which I breathe is that of liberty! Ah!—Thanks, Felton, thanks!” The young man pressed her to his heart. ‘** But what is the matter with my hands?" asked her ladyship; ‘‘my wrists feel as though they had been crushed in a vice.” She lifted up herarms: her wrists were indeed lacer- ated at those beautifnl ' ‘‘Alas!"’ said Felton, lookin hands, with a melancholy shake of the head. “Oh! it is nothing—it is nothing!’ exclaimed her oe ‘*T remember now.”’ Her ladyship looked aroand her. . is there,”’ said Felton, pointing to the bag of gold. They neared the sloop. The seamen on watch hailed the boat, from which an answer was returned. ** What vessel is this?” demanded her ladyship. ** That which I have freighted for you.” ** And whither will it take me?” **Wheresoever you please, after you have landed me at Portsmouth.”’ “Whathave you to do at Portsmouth?’ demanded her ladyship. *To execute the orders of Lord de Winter,” said Felton, with a gloomy smile. ‘* What orders!’ inquired her ladyship. “Do you not understand, then?” replied Felton. ‘‘No; explain yourself, I bese ou,”’ ** As he distrusted me, he determined to guard you himself ; and has sent me in his stead, to procure Buck. ingham’s signature to the order for your transporta- tion.”’ ‘But, if he suspected you, how came he to entrust you with this order?” ‘** He supposed me ignorant of its paper as he had told me nothing respecting it. I had, however, received my information from you.” *True! And you are going to Portsmouth?” “T have no time to lose: to-morrow is the twenty- mort and Buckingham departs to-morrow with the eet.”’ ** Departs to-morrow! “To la Rochelle!” ‘“‘ He must not go |” exclames her ladyship, forget- mind Where is he going?” ae 5 habitual presence : **Make yourself easy,’’ answered Felton, ‘‘he will not go!”’ Her ladyship trembled with va gt She had just netrated the most secret depths of the young man's 1eart, and had there seen the death of Buckingham in- effaceably registered. ‘*Felton,”’ whispered she, ome are as great as Judas Maccabeus, Should you die, I die with you! I can say no more.” ** Hush,”’ said Felton, ‘‘ we have reached the vessel.” They were, in fact, beside the sloop. Felton ascended the ladder, and yave his hand to her ladyship, whilst the sailors supported her, for the sea was still agitated. - In a moment afterwards, they were 1g the deck. ‘* Captain,’ said Felton, ** here is the lady of whom I keto you. You must take her, safe and sound, to rance.” ‘*For a thousand pistoles.”’ replied the captain. ‘*T have already paid you five hundred of them.” ** True,’ said the captain. ‘‘And here are the other five hundred,” added her ladyship, putting her hand to the bag of gold. ‘* No,’’ said the captain, ‘‘I have but one word, and that I gave to this young man. The other five hundred pistoles are not my due until we reach Boulogne.” ** And shall we reach there!” ‘**Safe and sound,” replied the captain, ‘‘as sure ag my name is Jack Butler.” ** Well!’ said her ladyship, # you keep your word aes of five hundred, I will give you a thousand pistoles.”’ “Hurrah, for you, then, my lovely lady!’ exclaimed the captain, ‘‘ and may fortune often send me such pas- sengers as your ladyship.”’ ‘‘In the meantime,’ said Felton, “run into Chi- chester Bay, just b Portsmouth. You remember that it was agreed you should take us there?” The captain ge by issuing orders for the necessary evolutions, and, tow seven o'clock in the morning, the little vessel came-to in the appeinted bay. During the bege Felton related ever ping her ladyship: how instead of — to London, he had frets hted this little vessel; how he had returned ; how e the stones, as he ascended, cramp-irons to support his | feet F and how at last, having reached the bars of her win shi Feltonin his design ; but, at the first words she ut- tered, she clearly ived thatit was necessary rather ; to moderate than to excite the young fanatic. 4 It was agreed that her ladyship should watt for Felton until ten o'clock ; and if he not returned by that hour, she was to set sail. ardnat liberty, be was to relein het ta Wonca, ar tno wards & e was to rejoin i Fare eOoneent of Batons ner 0 Brance, at the CHAPTER LVII. WHAT HAPPENED AT PORTSMOUTH, ON THE TWENTY- THIRD OF AUGUST, 1628. Felton took leave of her ladyship, as a brother who le going out for a simple walk takes leave of his sister, by was well aware of the rem e€om 9,00! ad scaled the wall, by placing, in the interstices of f ow, he had secured the ladderto them. Her lady- : nher side, her ladyebip endeavored to encourage | * J ' ’ : .