Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

pm cP i RR EO PGT TOT, ST ‘120 ee ee an eed The shadow of some frightful coming evil, which It would be out of her power to avert, had cast itself over her soul. a Wild contemplated her for some moments in silenee, and then he uttered the one word— “Well?” Bess fixed her eyes upon his face, and, by an effort, commanded her voice. “ Why do you come here?” she asked. “ Seek hot to tempt me. It will be of no avail.” ‘Ha! ha!” laughed Wild, rcassuming his odinary brutal manner to a great extent. “‘ Ha! ha! You do not know what goodis in store for you. Ha! ha!” “Good?’’ said Bess, “that Iam sure can never come from you to me, for we are enemies!” “You don’t know that, girl,’ said Jonathan, approach- ing her. “ Don’t shrink back. You have nothing to fear! After the little explanation which I gave you this morn- ing, and which of course, by this time, you have atten- tively considered, you will be able, without any difficulty, to understand me!”’ “‘T do not wish todo so. J am here your prisoner, and as I am well aware, in your power!”’ ‘Ha! ha! You admit that?” **T do, but yet I will not believe that all the rest 1s as you have told me, but cling with my latest breath to the ieee that Jack or Blueskin will rescue me from this place.” “Tam not afraid of them,” said Wild, “ knowing well how very safe and out of all power of doing mischief they are. Listen to me; I have thought much, and have come toa determination from which neither heaven nor hell shall move me.” ** Tmpious villain! ”’ Ha! ha! you shall know it, my dear—you shall know it, for I can assure you it very intimately concerns the pair of us. Ha! ha! Guess, now, what it is! You women are quick in taking hints, and clever at arriving at conclusions by intuition. Wa! ha! What do you think is my determination ?” “ T do not wish or care to know; but that it is rascahty of some description I already know you well enough to feel confident.” ‘We are complimentary to each other. All this, how- ever, is folly and waste of time. Come here, girl, I say, and listen! Your uncle is wholly in my power, and he only lives at the present moment because it suits me to let him do so. J can prophesy that he will not hve to be a patriarch.” Bess shuddered, and strove to shrink yet further away, but Wild, springing forward, caught her by the arm, and drew her towards him. Shriek upon shriek came from her lips as she found his hand upon her, and she struggled violently to get free. So shrill were the tones, that Jonathan could not make lns voice heard above them. Silence!” he yelled. ‘Silence! or I will do you a mischief. Do you hear me? be silent!”’ Iler dread that he might lay his hands upon her more than he had already done made her quiet. “That is reasonable of you, and still further display your good sense by listening tome. If itis possible | should like to use you gently, but if you provoke me to violence the consequences must be upon your own head.”’ Bess deemed it prudent to obey him. Indeed, so great was her terror that she was scarcely aware of what she was about. This compliance with his demand pleased Wild. “* You know as well as I do,” he said, ‘‘ that you are the heiress of immense estates and wealth to no inconsider- able amount. You are the last of your race. Now alone have the power of restoring to you your possessions. It is impossible for you to obtain them except with my assistance. ‘This assistance 1 am ready and willing to afford you if you will accede to my proposals. Speak! will you do so ?”’ ‘What are they ?” Wald hesitated when the question was put to him. Bess noticed it, and wondered what infamy there was behind his proposition. She repeated her question. ‘T may as well tell you at once,” said Wild. proposal is a very easy one. wife !” ‘* The It is that you become my Vey gqggee ——enrrenmes net ” —{ a= gamer Ln Rg A _—_ —— BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. eum ‘Your wife?” repeated Edgworth Bess, shuddering with horror at the bare idea. “I your wife?” “Yes; Mrs. Wild, you know! Mrs. Jonathan Wild! Come, my dear. When you know me IJ am sure you will like me better than thag young villain, Jack Sheppard. Come, say yes, and all will bo well. You shall quit this ur\ mgenial cell for a place suited for you” * Silence!” cried Bess. ‘‘ Never could I have believed that you would have had the audacity to make so bare- faced a proposal to me. Let one word suffice. Know that I reject your terms with the utmost disgust and con- tempt. Leave the cell!” Jonathan’s brows lowered. His countenance darkened, and assumed a demoniac expression. “Beware!” he said, in a deep, hoarse voice, *‘ beware! You seem not to remember that lam master here—that you are wholly and entirely in my power! ” “Tecare not! My resolve is unchangeable! Rather than consent, I would die a thousand deaths ! ” * Beware !”’ said Wild again, and sill more ominous and awful became the expression on his face. “I have told you that it was my wish to act gently towards you. I have offered you fair means. You have scorned me. The result will be that I shall have to use forcee—foul means to compel you to comply with my demands. If you repent, afterwards the fault will be no one’s but your Own . * Heaven help me!” © You have need of such a prayer. Be wise, and yield at once. Iam determined to achieve my purpose. You shall be my wife, and the Donmull estates and wealth mine—mine!” “Help! help!” shrieked Edgworth Bess, as though there was the horrible consciousness upon her soul that there was no help for her. ‘‘ Help! help! Mercy! mercy!” ** Do you consent ?”’ ** Never—never!”’ “Then, as I have told you, the consequences will be upon your own head. I can force you to yield, and I will doso. Do not look for any consideration from Jonathan Wild! Consent, then, to be my wife, or ere you are another hour older, you shall implore it as a favour at my bands.” With a great effort Bess preserved her conseiousness, but it was only the conviction that if she swooned she would be wholly at his mercy that enabled her to master the feeling, and with a boldness that surprised even her- self she repeated her refusal. ** You must take the consequences, then!” said Wild, and he seized her in his powerful arms. In his grasp she was like a child in the hands of a giant. Still she struggled as well as she could, but, alas! vainly. The villainous thief-taker forced her down. But just when he was about to achieve his purpose, he heard the hasty rush of footsteps, au exclamation, and then some one seized him by the throat. CHAPTER LXXXII. JACK SHEPPARD RATHEB ASTONISITES MR. NOAKES AND THE TURNKEYS. We think it quite time we returned to Jack Sheppard, whom we last left in such a ticklish position in Newgate. It will be recollected that he only ascended the stairs far enough to take him round the first turn in them, and then he had crouched down and peeped cautiously over the balusters at the scene which was taking place below. The governor, with an air of great bewilderment, was standing on the threshold of the room, the door of which Jack had opened. In the passage were some half-dozen turnkeys, who, having completely demolished the green baize door, were endeavouring to tell him what had taken place. Then Jack had made a mental remark, about there being some sport, and had announced his intention of staying where he then was in order to see it out. Now, however daring this resolution might be, and however much it may be admired on that account, yet it is very certain that 1t was anything but a prudent one. But Jack had very little prudence. On the contrary, a Ca cee RS Ae TN TC TE a Teo nay Gp EO DOO (C SH o(GO)