Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 249: what you’re looking at

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

h | BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. $4 | a A a ni ee Upon reaching the top he paused, for he heard a faint movement. The stairs were dark, so he crouched down upon them. Some one was coming. One of the doors upon the landing opened. Crouching down still lower, he watched and waited, A woman came forth. Who she was Steggs had no idea. Her proportions were rather immense, and she was what many would call a fine-looking woman. The reader will no doubt judge this was Mary Milliner. And so it was. The little fracas between her and her amiable consort 18, doubtless, fresh in the recollection of the reader. Upon the occasion referred to, Jonathan had drawn his sword and transfixed her with it. She was then handed over to Mr. Snoxall, under whose care she remained for some time ina very preca- rious condition. But at length she nearly recovered from the effects of the wound. She was, however, afraid to show her face to the thief- taker, for fear he should treat her to some further ill- usage. It was not Jong, however, before she learned that Jonathan had brought home a female prisoner, and ean- fined her in the room adjoining hers. Mr. Snoxall, of course, was her informant, From him she elicited these important facts, The female prisoner was young. She was fair. She was beautiful. She was ill, and Jonathan had manifested the greatest desire to have her brought to a proper state of health. Moreover, that he had offered the man of physic the very large sum of two hundred pounde if he was suc- cessful. Now, when we take into consideration the position which Mary Milliner held. And the violence of her temper. We shall certainly see cause enough for her to be sud- denly inflamed with jealousy. In fact, it amounted to a frenzy. Woman like, she jumped immediately to the conclusion that her Jonathan had brought her there with matri- monial designs. She did not, however, take into calculation that the prsone might have the greatest possible aversion to her ailer. She did not think she would sooner suffer a thousand deaths than become the bride of such a man. On the contrary, she thought she would, to use ber own ression, jump at the offer as soon as it was made her. ut she determined she would have no rivals in the affection of her Jonathan. Accordingly, on that morning—an eventful one it seemed destined to be—she resolved to put an end to the prisoner’s existence. Arming herself with a knife, and uttering some very diabolical threats, she emerged from he: own room. Steggs, however, had not the advantage the reader has, of being in possession of the facts which have gone before, and though he heard her muttering to herself about something, and was able even to catch a word here and there, he could not, for the life of him, think what she was after. He fancied at first that she was going to descend the stairs, but he found she passed the top of them, and went to the door which Steggs knew perfectly well, opened into the chamber occupied by Edgworth Bass. His heart beat rather painfully when he saw this, but e felt thankful he was at hand to protect, in case any danger | to should threaten her. And now Mary Milliner, after a good deal of fumbling, produced a skeleton-key from her pocket, with which she anlocked the door. No sound followed this movement, and after a little hesitation, the woman entered. Steggs crawled swiftly and stealthily forwarc. He knew the difficulties of his situation. But, just as he reached the door, that horrible scream had arisen, whose ear-piercingness had so startled the fanizaries who were carousing below. Edgworth Bess was sleeping when Jonathan’s mistress unlocked the door. Mr. Snoxell had administered a narcotic the nignt before, and she had not yet recovered from its effects. ‘ But the slight clicking of the lock partially aroused er. The footsteps of her foe completly did so. She opened her eyes, and lookee: up. To her unbounded surprise, she saw a huge woman leaning over her. It was under the impulse of the moment that sne uttered the scream. There was something in the expression of the woman’s face, and a baleful look in her eyes, which frightened her. Steggs bounded forward. He was just in time. Mary Milliner had drawn the knife with which she had ponies herself from its sheath in the bosom of her ress. She held it suspended in the air. Another moment, and it would have been brought down with the full strength of her powerful arm upon the breast of Edgworth Bess. But, ere she could achieve her fell intent, Steggs had grasped her wrists. He could not prevent it descending, however, but he averted it. It sank deeply into the clothing of the bed. ° Then he shifted his grasp from her wrist to her neck, and a furious struggle commenced. It was during that struggle that Mary Milliner uttered the short, sharp, shrill screams. . But Steggs quickly found that, in point of mere bodily strength, he was no match for his opponent; and there- fore, with great suddenness, he drew the knife from the bed, and plunged it into her breast. The blow was almost immediately fatal. The blade had reached some vital part. Then Steggs thought how awkwardly he was situated. What should he do? How should he avert suspicion from himself ? An idea flashed across his fertile brain in a moment, and he at once proceeded to carry it out. He dragged the now almost helpless woman from tho room. Thea to the top of the stairs. Eixerting his whole strength, he then picked her up and pitched her over the balusters. She fell to the bottom of the flight, a distance of twelve feet at least, like a log of wood. So far, then, all was well; but then Steggs knew that an alarm would be immediately raised, the body found, and the upper portion of the house thoroughly searched. Should he be discovered, suspicion would at once fall upon him. What excuse could he make to account for his position there ? None. At least, none that would be satisfactory, Where was he to conceal himself. Hiding-places in plenty there no doubt were, but then was there one which would not be pried into ? Hastening back to the door of Edgworth Bess’s room, he took the skeleton-key out of the lock, where Mary Milliner had left it sticking, and, entering the chambers, close the door after him. Then he locked it on the inner side, and returned the key to his pocket. ; Feeble as Edgworth Bess was, she saw that the actions of Steggs were the actions of a friend and not a foo Besides, had he not saved her from 2 horrible death P Approaching the bedside he said, in a low emphatic ne. *Do not cry out or make the least noise, In me you see a friend who will defend you to the ful extend of his ability. But I cannot single-handed fight against so many. ss What is itP Tell me, I cannot think.” ; She pressed her hands over her eyes, as she spoke in the manner of one much confused. ‘Wait a little,’ said Steggs, ‘“‘ Hark, cannot you near them coming ?” ; The trampling of many footsteps on the stairs followed his question. . “Yes! yes! I hear them. ‘Be silent, then, and I will tell you all presently. If Ware oP a” — came i ' \ q 3 q d EO DOO C SS (SO) 5}