The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 349: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. peasant instantaneously secured her. Resistance on her part was vain; for the man’s brawny arms being thrown around her, pinioned her lank arms to her side and held her powerless. Captain Stanley hastily accosted Christina, and learnt from the young lady’s lips everything that had passed between herself and the woman. As Stanley listened, an ides flashed to his mind. Who could the woman be but Barbara Smedley? She had for some time been missing—Stanley had read the handbills offering a reward for her apprehension «he remembered the description given of her— and despite the change which misery and privation had wrought in the murderess, there was etill o sufficient remnant of her former self to justify the belief that she was the identical ane who had just been overpowered. Besides, there wae no other way of accounting for the words that she had used, to the effect that she hat contributed materialty to the success and development of the eims of the twins. “Yes, # muss be sal” exclaimed Captain Stanley after a few moments’ reflection. “ Thats woman, Lady Christina, is none other thas the wife of a man whe guse ewdence before the Com- mittee of Pease———E mean the eonvich Smed- ley.” "Our heroine Beane paler than se was before on hearing this angosneoment; and she said, “Oh, Captain Stanley! how can I sufficiently thank you for having delivered me from such a wreteh?” _ © Weman,” said the Captain, again approaching Barbare—for she maeed it wes-—"1 know who you are. Exeavem hae dvervead theb the dy of = tribution should exuuee af last !’” “* Fool—idiot thaé I was,” esexeamed forth the wretched creature, “ for uttering a word that could betray me! But as well dic upon the gallows as perish by starvation! And yet,” she continucd, now assuming a lock and tome of appeal, “you | it! might show mercy upon me, young lady; for ¥ I had not preserved those papers which eamtained the mystery of your eaplinst days, neither you nor your brother would perhaps have sussesded-———’” “Silence!” exclaimed Stanley indignantly. © Make no merit of what you did. For purposes of extortion did you keep those papers !” Two or three other labouring men, who were on the way to their work, now made their appearance upon the spot; and as the woman was evidently of the most desperate character, Captain Stauley considered that she could not have too strong an escort. Ho therefore ordered these men to ocon- duct her to the village, and there consign her into the hands of a constable ; so that a justice of the peace might take cognisance of the case in the course of the day. Bab Smedley poured forth a volley of the most terrible imprecations ; and Cap- tain Stanley, proffering Christina his arm, hurried the young lady off. This was the second tama that he had rendered our heroine a most important ser- vice; and she renewed in suitable terms the ex- pression of her gratitude. Was not this an oppor- tunity of which an admirer would take advantage ? and Christina looked so eminently beautiful, with the flush of excitement now superseding the pale- ness of recent terror, that the young officer felt more enamoured of her if possible than ever. She had accepted his arm: but it was natural under _ the circumstances that she should bestow this degree of confiding friendship upon him who had delivered her from tho violence of a desperate woman. His eyes were fixed admiringly upon her; and yet there was in his gaze all that re- spectfulness which associates iteelf with the love of an honourable man for a chaste and virtuous maiden. Lady Christina,” he said, in a low, gentle, but earnest tone, “ will you permit me to offer you the bomage of that heart which has learnt to appreciate all your excellent qualities? Ob, deem not the mo- ment inopportune !—and think not for an instant that I am so ungenerous as to endeavour to avail myself of the little sexvice which has been deemed worthy of your thanks! Let me assure you that from the first instant we evor met in the neigh- bourhood of London, I have entertained for you the deepest interest-—the highest admiration—and permit me now ta edd the sincarest love. Teil me, Lady Christina—may F venture to hope ?” We have already end thes the young maiden was hitherto totally unawere of the sentiment with which she had tmspized Robert Stanley. When therefore he begam to address her in those terms, .she was filled with estoniehmens and confasion : she could not give uétesance to a word that might cheek him at the estest. He felt her hand tremble as i¢ delicately reeted upgen hia arm; and his heagt beat with joy at tha idem thet he was not an object of indifference te har. But whan he had ceased speaking, that hand was withdrawn from his arm ; and Christina’s countenance became deeply serious, at the samo time haxing aa expression of pain and regret. . “Captain Stanley,” she replied, “I scarcely know in what terms to cowoh the answer that I am compelled to give yan. Believe ma, I am not inssusible of the fiattering compliment by such @ proposal :——=-bus still F eannos acaspé The young officer was ae much astanished as he wae grieved. Hoe had not forescen a vefesal: he bad not anticipated it. Without any undue vanity, he had believed in the certain success of his suit. The refusal itself was conveyed in language ao reserved and ambiguous that it corresponded not with the usual candour of Christina’s conduct and disposition. That she was not engaged to another, he felt morally certain; for if such en- gagement existed, why should it be kept secret ? And again, if she loved another without as yet being formally engaged, would she not in her frankness have proclaimed the fact in order to mitigate the mortification occasioned by this re- fusal? But to refase without alleging a reason, was an act so different from the idea he had formed of her character, that he was astonished at the same time that his manly pride was necessarily wounded. “Your ladyship will at least pardon me,” he said, at last breaking silence, “ for having ventured. to address you in such terms——” “TI think, Captain Stanley,” she interrupted him, “that the way in which I answered you, must have sufficiently proven that [ felt honoured and flattered by your preference ; and therefore I could not be offended. No!—believe me, I amnot’ £ fecel—I know that I ought to be more explicit : but-——” She stopped short, and the tears began to trickle en ee EOMNICEOOOLKS. CO