Thrice Lost, Thrice Won — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

YN te Dick Derwent Plots, “Good gracious me!” exclaimed Mr. Derwent, “What on earth do you mean, Miss Mallory? The last time? You never mean to say that old ged a is going to send yor sway to school at last?’ “No, Dick—ten times worse. I wish it was only school. He’s going,” in an awful whisper, “to—marry—me!” What!” cried Dick, in horror, “marry you—his niece— that old man? Estella ss “Oh, no no! not himself. He’s going to marry me eB an- other man. And you’d never guess the man, Dick—that dreadful wretch, Captain Roysten Darrell.” Dick Derwent recoiled a pace, with a face full of horror. “Estella !” “IT don’t know why it is, or what he wants to marry me for,” continued Estella, rapidly; “but he does. He was with uncle all the afternoon, and as soon as he went unele sent for me and told me I must be married in a week, and to the cap- tain of the Raven. Think of. that, Dick—in a week! Of course I said no—flat—and uncle got into a rage and threat- ened to lock me in the garret with the rats and beetles and keep me on bread and water until I consented. Oh, Dick!” what will become of me—what shall I do?” “See them both at the bottom of the bottomless pit! ad beseet out Mr. Derwent. “The cold-blooded old reptile! Why, if he searched the universe, he could hardly find a more desper- ate villain than that outlawed smuggler, Dare-devil Darrell! Marry you to-him! Good Heaven! He had better take and pitch you, headforemost, into the sea yonder and end your misery at once. Marry Roysten Darrell! Not if I know my- self, Essie, and I rather think I do.” “Dear old Dick! I knew you would help me. . What would. | ever become of me only for you? But what can I do? To- morrow he comes for his answer, and 1f the answer is ‘no,’ in the attic I’ll be locked as sure as we stand here.” bia “Then don’t give them the chance,” said impetuous Dick; “run away to-night: Does the hoary old reprobate think he has gone back to the dark ages, to lock young and lovely females in the ‘deepest dungeon beneath the castle moat,’ upon bread and water? Give them the slip, Essie—make yourself ‘thin air’ at once.” | “And go where?’ asked the young lady, calmly. “Look here, Dick, ve been thinking it over, and it’s of po use. Uncle is the richest man and the most powerful man in Rock- ledge. Half of the town are his tenants—all are afraid of — him—-none of them will willingly incur his displeasure. If I leave here, where will I go? who will receive me? You have . no home to take me to, and you are the only friend I have ‘ot. I ean’t be a burden upon anybody, and I seaheceormicbooks, “om