Black Bess; or, The Knight of the Road — A Tale of the Good Old Times — page 327: what you’re looking at

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

EEO Creeper empemnrenaes a> wstadinmnenn site x > ermieamniesich, agente —eecee BLUESKIN: A ROMANCE. Sew et a B25 The only persons now in the thief-taker’s residence were | oath, had he not step by step urged him forward to his Tonks and one of the band. These two were both on duty. One was on the lock at the front door. The other on guard at tho grating leading to the cells. Jouathanu Wild had been out some hours. When the intelligence was brought to lim that his warehouse in Westminster had been breken into and robbed, be did not require any one to tell him who were the thieves. The existence of the place was known to but few persous, and there were fewer still who could have found their way into it. Uttering the most awful curses that any one could con- ceive, Jonathan Wild had called his men together and rode to the Horseferry. His determination was this. When he arrived he would look all around for some clue as to the route taken by the robbers, and then, having once got upon the track, to follow it up, step by step, until he had them in his power. But the mere relation of Jack’s and Blueskin’s adven- tures is enough to show that at present be had not suc- ceeded in coming up with them. CHAPTER COXXVI. JACK SHEPPARD'S HAPPINESS 1S OF SHORT DURATION. WiTH a slow and steady step, and a look of extreme apprehension upon his face, Steggs came out of Edgworth Bess’s room, and crossed the landing to where Jack stood. ‘Enter,’ he said, “and be quick. Jonathan may return at any moment, and then all will be lost.” Jack Sheppard did not wait to hear the rest of this admonitory sentence, but hurried to the door. 1t was partly closed. ~ Hie tapped upon the panel, and entered. Then his ears were greeted with a faint but fervent cry of welvome. Almost blind with emotion, he staggered forward, and through a kind of mist he caught sight of the form of she whom he loved better than all the world. Then the next moment he felt her arms twined round his neck and her head upon his shoulder. “Oh! Jack—Jack! You have come at last. I have for so long wished and expected you. You have come to save me, Jack, have you uot? You will take me away from this hateful and terrible place—out of Jonathan Wild’s power? Oh! Jack, [am so very glad to see you.” What Jack’s feelings were at this moment no one could possibly tell. He was in a kind of delirium, and scarcely conscious whether what was taking place was real or a distempered vision. His heart swelled. The sensation of joy which he experienced almost over- came him. Loving her as he did, it was unspeakable rapture to hear Heme tly-uttered words and feel her arms around lus neck. Waa he loved in return ? Could it be possible that she had for him similar feel- ings to those which he had in his breast for her. He fancied so now. lt was not in his power to resist the influence which this feeling had over hin. Upon an impulse which he could not have controlled had instant death been the penalty of its gratification. he placed his arms around her slender form, and pressed her ardently against his breast. At that moment he forgot the purport of the conversa- tion he had had with Blueskin upon this very subject so short a time before. He forgot their own perilous position. Forgot that he was a condemned felon with a reward upon his head. And where was he? Instead of being far away and safe frow ail pursuit, there he was in a house that positively adjoined the prison of Newgate. And not only that, he stood beneath ‘9 roof of his greatest and most implacable enemy. Tho man who Fad over and drer agerin sworn tbat ho Weld being bir to ths gullewe, and elecy he nyore thet FEEL Pn PP PIS IO TE TOI ft ITO, fatal destination. But all that faded from Jack’s mind. He only felt that he loved—that ho held the object of his love to his heart—that her head was resting upon his shoulder—that her arms were round his ueck. She had spoken to him words of kiudness—she had pean her reliance upon him. Ho had come to save ier, ‘ Cau it be woudered at that all these things produced a kind of tutoxication in Jack’s mind. It was Edgworth Bess, however, who first roused him from this state of bliss—from the only moment of pure happiness that he had ever known. “Jack,” she said. ‘‘ Release me now—you hurt me. Ifow came you here? Oh! fly—fiy! If Jonathan Wild returned, what would become of us?” “Jonathan Wild!” repeated Jack, for the word struck upon his ear like a jarring discord in the midst of sweet music. “I havea reckoning to pay off with that villaiu. Do not fear him, for you may already consider yourself out of his power.” “Oh! that is joyful news, indeed. Out of his power ? Oh! Jack, I knew you would save me. I felt sure of it. I have waited a Jong—long time for you to take me away from here; but you have come at last.” **[ have; and whatis more, I have two trusty friends to aid me, and so you have nought to fear. United, we are a match for Jonathan Wild.” “One is Steggs.”’ ** Yes, and the other is Blueskin.”’ ‘* He has, indeed, proved himself a friend.” ** One is on the landing outside, and the other is on the roofs above, kecping guard.” ‘Qn the roofs?” Yes. I ought to have told you. The only way we can manage is for you to escape by the roofs. We lave taken an attic in the house next door, and to that we shull have to make our way.” “Oh! Jack, you do not know how much I would do to be free from the power of the villain Wild.” That is all you will have todo. Our course is plain and straight before us. Everything is arranged.” ** Then Jet us fly at once.” ** Are you prepared P”’ ** Quite; and Steggs has told me that Wild is notin the honse, though no one knows how soon he may return. Oh! let us fly at once, lest he should come back and find us here.” ‘We will; but believe me, [ have dedicated my life to your service. Iamacondemned man. Do not shudder. The crime of which I was accused I am as innocent of as you are yourself. But ere I die I have determined that I will see you in possession of your rights, and Jouathan Wild swinging on the triple-tree at Tyburn !”’ ‘* If any one deserved such a fate,” said Edgworth Bess, “he does, and he has proved himself so inveterate a foe to me, that [ could not pity him were such to be his fate to- morrow.” Pity bim!’’ said Jack, “I should think not. But surely his course of iniquity must be well nigh run out. ‘he crimes he has committed are enough for the damna- tion of twenty men!”’ ‘Hush, Jack. I donotlike to hear you talk like that.” ** He brought my father to the scaffold. He offended him in some way, I know not how, but let it be what it may, for that offence he swore that he should die at Tyburn! He kept his oath, and murdered my father.” “Ob f itis terrible.” ** And then, myself. Malignant fate in some way threw us together. At the time even when you saw me first I was in his employ, and had I taken part with him against your- self I should probably never have incurred his hate and enmity in the way I have done. But you know the perils and the dangers through which I have had to pass, and solely on his account. ‘Then he brought a false charge of murder against me—kept away the lawyer who was instructed to appear in my behalf—and caused me to be sentenced to death.” ‘Your wrongs are great, and so are mine, but in the end we ehall triumph, and he will pay the penalty of hia "8s 4 ER CEC I a cS a cc I a a i ac a i a” TES a OE, 5 MCT II AE guilty acta. If I can do anything to bring abont na desirable an end you may depend 4 shall, Hut 1 look vpon hie downfall aa gorteins”’ COMmiiclOolkxs.con