Beautiful Rienzi; or, The secret vendetta — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

152 BEAUTIFUL RIENZE. “‘ Ralph Morecombe,” he threw the name at me, as a dog emits a snarl at losing a bone. «* And have you ever heard of us before?” ‘‘What makes you think such a thing, Miss Ivanilla Rienzi?” ““No one ever greeted a stranger, or a friend, as you have greeted me. You are an enemy—and why?” I steadily escorted him along the grassy sweep, secretly trembling with sick consternation, but outwardly firm. He trudged on, dumb as a stone, until the last of the grass was pressed down; then he turned on me, a cold fury in his eyes which well might make me tremble. ‘‘Look here, miss,” he said between his teeth; ‘‘I don’t advise you to run your neck into any noose that you can’t run it out of again—it’s dangerous. Better see nothing, and say less!” ‘“*[ do not understand you, sir,” I responded, “ but I shall find means to understand you, and have your position here looked into; sir, you will have to explain your threats.” ‘* Ha, ha! a fool’s colt is soon shot! By-by, missy!” I retreated hastily through the orchard, making no answer to his taunting words; in fact, too terrified ‘to speak. ‘¢ Who is that man in the orchard?” I asked impetuously of the housekeeper, as I entered the kitchen. ‘* A man in the orchard? Oh, I suppose you mean old Ralph the gardener.” ““Who is he?” ‘‘ Well, he’s just—he’s just old Ralph, the gardener,” said Mrs. Haller, with a puzzled look. ‘¢ Where does he come from?” ‘‘T can’t rightly tell you, miss; from everywheres, I do believe; he’s more like the Wandering Jew than anything else, I’m sure.” ‘What is his other name?” ‘¢Morton—Motley—no, Morecombe, I believe. He's a surly old chap. Hope he didn’t frighten you, miss?” ‘¢ How long has he been here, Mrs. Haller?” ‘‘He came with the last tenant; let mesee. All last winter he was here off and on.” ‘¢Oh, Mrs. Haller, who was the last tenant?” ‘‘Mrs. Ringwood, miss, from Vermont, if I recollect right ; a pious, good lady, if ever there was one; and yet a queer one.” COMICOOO S (©)