The Skeleton Crew; Or, Wildfire Ned — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

‘ ——= a f . | THE SKELETON CREW; OR, WILDFIRE NED. _ And, without saying another word, Ned Warbeck conducted Ellen Harmer from the apartment by the secret back stairway ; and before the king could utter a word, the door was locked upon him, and the fair fugitive was safe in the hands of friends, CHAPTER LI. COLONEL BLOOD HAS HIS REVENGE — STORMY INTERVIEW — MEETING IN THE WOOD — A STARTLING INCIDENT — DISCOVERY OF THE VICTIM—THE DEATH-BED CURSE. It WAS a bold thing for Wildfire Ned to do, but he had sworn to accomplish the rescue of Ellen Harmer, and the gallant deed waa accomplished. Outside the palace gardens stood a carriage and four noble horses, ready to convey the fair Ellen to her father’s home. — Bob Bertram was the driver, and outside waiting for Ned Warbeck stood Lieutenant Garnet. | “ Bravo, Ned!” said Garnet. ‘ Youhave got the girl safe ?” »/S Yes,” said Ned ; “‘ but, as I expected; not without opposition and a sharp fight. I met Colonel Blood, and we crossed swords. He fell in less than a minute. I pushed my way up the back stair- Case, and rescued the maiden right under the nose, and in open defiance of the king.” “JT fear you will suffer for all this, Ned.” ‘No matter. I care not for king or any one when virtue and honor are at stake. Dfive on, Bob, with all your might.” ; Bob Bertram did not want bidding twice. He lashed up his four horses, and away went Ellen Harmer towards Darlington at full speed, whither Sir Edward Warbeck and her father had gone before her. When she arrived there, Ellen was thoroughly exhausted with the length of the journey, and re- tired to rest immediately ; and in her slumbers did not dream of the cruel fate which awaited her. In the morning she was much better, and was visited by her foster sister, whom she loved more dearly perhaps than any one on earth, This foster sister told her all that had transpired in the house since the fatal night of her abduction, When she heard of Andrew’s mishap in being desperately wounded, and thrown from the tridge by, some uoknown man, Ellen wept bitterly ; for in her heart she kaew the villain must and could be none other than the cold-hearted, treacherous, Colonel Blood. ? But when her foster sister told her also that Andrew, her old and faithful lover, was now acon- firmed lunatic, she sank into a chair and sobbed aloud. — : “ Nay, do not weep, Ellen!” said her father, the old miller, who now entered the apartment, and stood before the two girls with a pale face, ‘‘ Nay, do not weep for him, Hilen, but weep for me—for your honor and mine is gone for ever.” « Gone!” said Ellen, rising with a flushed face “Nay, father, say notso! Your daughter is as spotless as on the night when she was cruelly carried away by a ruthless villain |” “ The world will not believe it, Ellen; but if I thought fer a moment you had disgraced me and mine, I would rather see you dead at my fect. Nelly wept and sobbed by turns ; but the cruel words of her father brought the hot blood to her 179 fair cheeks, and she vindicated herself most elo- quently from the foul aspersions of all idle, gossip- ping village scandal, What at first, then, had been a stormy meeting between her father and herself (see cut in No. 18), closed as such meetings always should close between parents and children. Ellen threw herself into her father’s arms, and, with beating heart, told him all her trials and troubles. “God bless you, child, God bless you !” gaid the old miller, as he tenderly kissed her and left the room, Two days after this meeting of father and daugh- ter, Ellen, accompanied by two female friends, strolled through the woods of Darlington, in order to call upon and console Andrew, who was reported to be dying raving mad. They had enjoyed their walk, and were much flushed with exercise, when they were startled by a strange sight (see cut in No. 21). In the distance, and partly concealed by the deep undergrowth of the forest, they perceived two men engaged in a hostile meeting. So unlooked for was this strange sight, that the timid girls could have fainted ; but, seized with horror and fright, they turned somewhat from their own path and ran swiftly away. Still the clinking of swords sounded in their ears and it was long ere they could breathe freely again: However, Ellen and her friends ‘pursued their way towards the cottage of Andrew’s mother, but were greatly surprised to find that instead of dying, Andrew was not at home, but was well and hearty, except in mind, and had left the cottage rather suddenly a few nights before in pursuit of a strange horseman, whom he appeared to recognise as an enemy. Since that time nothing liad been seen or heard of the poor deranged youth, his old weeping mother said ; nevertheless she did all that lay in her power to make her lady visitors as comfortable as pos- sible. But the good old dame wept very bitterly, for she was a widow, and since her son’s fatal accident she had fallen very rapidly in worldly circumstances, and was on the brink of great poverty, if, indeed, not of absolute want. Ellen and her friends returned to the village, and did not fail to give an account of the duel which had taken place in Darlington Wood. Miller Harmer and other villagers went forth, with their guns and swords, to see what had hap- pened. They scoured the woods thoroughly in all direc- tions, but did not discover anything noteworthy. As they were about to give up the search, how- ever, old Harmer came upon a retired spot, and there found a large pool of blood. The grass all round about had been trodden down as if men had been engaged in deadly combat. But nobody was found, nor the least vestige of clothing which might have directed. any further search or led to the discovery of the unknown persons. A few days afterwards, however, Ellen Harmer, feeling sore at heart, and fretful in mind, went across the fields and through Darlington Woods to visit Andrew’s mother, and to ascertain, if possible, whether she or her father could do any good for the poor widow and her demented son. She arrived at the cottage, but no tidings had been heard of poor Andy, and his mother was well- nigh broken-hearted. cComuiclboooks. con