Ergatis | 1908-01-04 | Page 4

a for a peccadille. To be | says he. “At least ‘tis put in an ut over-late for virtuamazing odd way But,” he cries out, what's a clock im the irsting with his news, “Old Irons is ws? And if any here!” vas this same George What! that old cut purse,” said 1, ve been swinged, not | annoyed, for I was no fri of Old ve sharply, and there w with a candle in | s he, for my ap- surprise 1 in Rowle a friendly way, nor am I the} ig between, and nothing. But I astray on the | ‘ the Hberty to afe and secure.” ad further ‘out,| 1s to throwthe | It's » Go he r, yu “STAND, ROGUE, OR | FIRE!” I you, Nelly!” I not said I to your loymade a mo- | but my foot softly, believe,” " a ας -- THE DRAPER’S NIECE | ‘man ‘ <x fr , . by Joseph B. Bowles.) ‘Twas late of night when | reached Wimbledon Common out of the west where | had been patroling the road for some two months or more, and with mighty little success, as it thanced that year 1 love the west he stature, which was small, and her body, which was slight, bu vas to be indeceived in that lis my uncle he sobbed He has shut the door on me. He will not let me in. He vows he has done with country, me not only because I have, as a rule, found there fat pockets jogging home ugtimely on a nag, or fine nobk men in rich chaises, very proud but tender to pick, but he has me cause unt are not hard you misse tha f 1 I have also a senti Ww πι the world nor the own mental leaning towards that part, and minds that's the truth I will not deny. There Nay,” she say he has a reason is some that hanker after the Greut for his anger and he will not relen North road, and boast that there is no He will not have me back.” she said better toby-ground than ‘twixt Steven π 8 voice of hesitating timidit and, age and Grantham, while I have even eeming of a sudden to have taken in known ‘em to set up Finchley Common the shame of her situation, she bezan or Hounslow for choice, Old [rons to withdraw into the night who never had much self-respect, and Not so fast, young madam,” said was not above turning common crib I, “you have broken my mare’s leg. I cracker if it so served him, was wont believe. and I must have a talk with to go no further than Finchley when you. What's the reason?” says I he was lacking a goldfinch or two She paused, and then in a tremulous But the west is after my heart, bequick voice says, “He will not hear {ng big and populous and swarming that George Riseley shall marry me.’ with sqgires and comfortable warm “Oh, ho!” said I, “I begin to smell folk. I know the North road, and was powder. And he has turned you out once very well known there myself, of doors?” and celebrated on the Yorkshire “No,” she faltered. “He would not moors, a confounded cold, uneivil | admit me.” place, Indeed, there are few parts of “T begin to see beyond my nose,” the kingdom I have not traversed in I said; “you were walking with this my time, Well, | was newly out of the west that May night, but on this occasion in no very good humor, as you may imagine, when I say that 1 had been forced to leave a belt of guineas behind at Devizes—so close upon me were the traps. Indeed, | was very nearly taken in the night, all owing to the treachery of an innkeeper, roast him! "Twas afine, mild night and | was for lying in Clerkenwell at a house I knew, but I had reached no further than Roehampton lane, when of a sudden | reined in, for | remem- bered an inn there that I had sometimes used, and, to say the truth, I was thirsty. “Weill,” thinks I, “maybe I will lie here and maybe not. I will let fortune decide,” and I was turning the mare into the lane, when something comes up quick in the thick of the darkness, | and rushes upon Calypso’s rump. The mare started and backed into the hedge, and I raised my voice and cursed, as you may guess. “Why,” says I, “you toad, you muckrake, you dungfork,”’ and the Lord knows where I should ha’ gotten to if } a gleam of white in the blackness had she was ing me mighti vrathful and ing so black and lonely Ol sir voice she bre she Well, terre the calls in See night be This Pretty lated. “Why, come,” I her, “I'd ha’ done the although you would not prim and proper youth was back late?” “Yes,” says she, in a my side, guessed, deep She hes) said, rallying same myself, credit it of a like me. You low voice, Ryda not the ri i miss like you in tears, and as you was bully that sor inderi was meant for my him I wager to very said he of ὶ er s neigh We love h it lain goir το to wa me il 1 me ξ me fat tha i a girl I chit her brings me Georg able virtues, and trusted him, and how loved him iid 1 she blessed best let ‘em not maybe this par h Wi ame to a halt, and us a house Ti there B says I, if you will find me the ular villain, fat or lean, and cock cockatri vi that said I Then, the wind blows?” | sink me! but I shall how ha to ¢ Ὁ school again to learn morals But there is one thing I have no need to learn again, and t} how to knock sense and discreto a thick head,” said I, mean ν. and at the same time I threw | he bridle over Calypso’s @ars and | 1 free before the old villain. He looked at me a moment, the lame the candle wagging before h fa id the grease guttering lown the cz lestick “You do not ind, sir,” he said in a quieter at Old Bailey forthright She was voice have to give my niece lesprettily haridsome, like a doll that ns; I have to teach her by severity; turns eyes up or down and smiles out but since it is probable that she has of pink cheeks, in which were two ween sufficiently frightened by this dimples mighty enticing Up she idventure, and come to. rea comes in a rush almost breathless, son, let her enter.” And so saying, pped back and held the door and breaks out to me: “*Tis he, ‘tis he, sir ASide | “Who the devil is he‘ said I, sharp That he was of a savage, unconly. trollable temper was evident, but I “"Tis Mr. Riseley,” she says, some had 1 eckoned with the old bear’s what abashed He has been 511 cunning, and 1 vow I was to blame| ping here, and is setting forth for hi for it. So old a hand as Dick Ryder lodging.” hould not have been caught by so “I commend his discretion,” I said mple a_ trick Yet he was miss’s | dryly; “an excellent good place for uncle, and how was I to suspect him so deeply? At any rate, the facts are Supper, so it is, especially for young bloods like that Well,’ says | that, on seeing him alter so reasona“since you're content, as it seems, | bly, and step back with the invitation will leave you and young Cupid and on his lips and in his bearing, I too be about my business stepped back from the doorway to | At this she looked dumbfounded leave way for miss to enter. Then of “But,” she begins, stammering, and | a sudden bang goes the door to, shakpaused. | ing the very walls of the house, and I threw a glance at Riseley, who ja great key is turned in the inside, | stood by with an air something 'twixt | groaning rustily. I will confess I felt blank, but I re- | arrogance and uneasiness. I plumbed his depths, for I have come across covered in a moment, when out of the window above the old rascal stuck hig many such as he in my time — fine feathers enough and nothing behind head. them. But it was true that the cox“Let her go back to her lover!” he comb’s appearance did not better her says with a sneer. “Or maybe you ease, beyond that titillation of mucan take her yourself. I want no tual affeetion; so I considered, and soiled pieces in a Christian house,” the idea I had taken suddenly bloomand the head was withdrawn, the wined forth in my mind. There was Old dow shut tight, and the house was Irons, and here were we. I could plunged in darkness. have laughed aloud to think how I You may suppose howthis usage was for binding all the threads in one, annoyed me, who am not wont to be to say nothing of Nunkey’s on the treated in so scurvy a fashion, or to common, So turned about to Costcome out of the contest so shabbily. I ley. was, on the instant. for flying at the “I was wrong,” says I; “I will do door and employing my barkers and Capt. Irons the honor to sup with him, point forthwith, but it is not wise to and this young gentleman, I make no leap too soon with your eyes shut, and doubt, will join me.” so I held my temper and my tongue, “I beg your pardon—I—I have suponly showing my teeth in an ugly ped,” he stammered. grin as I turned to Miss Nelly. a” r ] s « remember that I had not seen her face all this time, for all the streaming candle the old gentleman carried, but I gathered that she was in distress from the note of her voice, which trem- bled “You cannot mean it, sir,” she cried, and shrank away into the darkness, whence | caught the sound of sobbing “Why, bless you, child,” said ΓΤ touched at the exhibition of her weakness and innocence, “such chitterking as a ou may be, I'll swear l George, or I may per Sir,” says she, staying he and speaking with an air of ἃ vastly entertaining, “I am past Well.” says I, “if you a that, I would I had a mothe ranny But as for old § you are for and ick ut handsome pretty me! that s the lad fo I don't wonder at And on that falling very was is a a a do I SAY poor t his I it as | vine his agzon prospects handsome,” says m sn ind he is the be » in the city and W he reat, rth was we walked on together quite money, nu at taken € D thigh as worry have ¢ ige George small with Let He is with ¢€ hu bod this myse have no pros it | warrant 1 can get what Tis the same with the enc bone ellow eyes pr while ‘prentice “Well said I, I want in mar George. words something reluctant, as 1 but cheering ent in wa says she, with a good custom and a 1 a but Dick | seems that George andI must fight or toss for you, my dear.” You must Lady. George, and returned late?” Her unt the city a what I like “Why,” says I, “the old buck has said the truth. And there is something in his whimsies after all. It not in that instant disclosed to me the | “Well,” said I, “old hunks shall take blunderer Twas a woman, or, at you in, never fear so come along of| least, a slip so young and silly that me, and show me where Nunkylives | maybe she should not be so styled; and fumes and fusses.” } and I had nc ner 1 that out and At that I threw Calypso’s bridle ceased in the middle of my objurga over my arm, and began to go along tions than I made another discovery the road, the little mi walking by It wa er voi that did it for no doubt | can do ! ΩΤ! By H. B. MARRIOTT-WATSON (Copyright, 1s she is mine and not A DICK RYDER TALE . gaffer. . nodding ‘Hy and stab me for if me, I pretty do think she tered to be im | s is me sed si i 18.” 1 as ou, er, τ ld coin before two in the meantir with me gz I not a flut ler standing my s wed me obediently, not fol ny leas of her own, poor ul e way to Roehamton, wi le nd she leanwh care of t knew a I was fa ny mind a plan for the ox f the old tub-oflard as ever lose time, but am s tim; yet all the el iss pretty shrinki1 ginning now wonder for to When get we s ν scare were led had lie hi in ing rit my vith a beno ¢ avern I came » the ta alled out for (\Costley, w ouse then, but is since d quor; and out runs he in } vith a lively face, for he ν erry state enough, the hour the and the zood ron, n a being ate or “So shall you,” said I, and forthwith went up and banged upon the door Now I uid guess very much of what had happened in that house and ba-la like you, n Ι. Ὦ 1} the | ll have awakeand out, and sor thing more besides, rip me if i don't how old hunks had taken a fit of I had put her down as a child from| choler and choking on it had sent his gain his spirits. He whistles a snatch, and called for more ale and brandy, which was his favorite drink Irons,” says I, “a man of heart and tenderness like you would be all agog to do service to @ young lady that irons. was in trouble,” and I winked at “Yes,” said he, eagerly, “you'll sup +m meani gly across the table along of him? Service!" says he, starting uj D— me, I ewon't!” said L “I want “Why, I've just been pining Dick, all no cutpurses my company.” this time for you to.come to it Come, Captair said he, protesting ‘What's Dick got?’ says I to myseif for he had a fear of me, and knew of and says myself to 1: ‘Maybe (and 1 my repute of many road Fair play hope) he will be for letting me strike and equality in a tre 1 says he a blow in behalf of youth and beauty? Stab me, Dick! those were my very Il was on the point to give him the words to myself.” rough edge of my tongue—for it was “Well,” says I, bluntly, “you shall like his impudence to try cozening me when down the stairs into the pas have your wish, old man, and this sage came a man, walking very stiff- | young gentleman, too, who I see is regularly jumping to join us ly with his head in the air I stoped at once, for I knew not who he I—I know not what you mean,’ might be, and down he steps into the stuttered the peacock. “Having sup light, showing a foppish sort of a ped, and being called on to retire to face ir very particularly curly, and my lodgings, which is far hence, I a becoming dress No sooner did I will take the opportunity to thank clap eyes on him than I knew what you, sir, for your hospitality, and be kidney he was, and that he was ποῖ gone.” worth two blinks of ogles, as they Now at that I only confirmed in say So I turned my back on him the opinion I had formed of h as and was beginning on Costley again, nothing but a cur of no spirit: for | when | was surprised by the girl's here he was willing nay, anxious, to voice crying out from the entrance fly off and leave his lady in the hands behind me of those he knew not, with never a | What ‘*e devil?” says I, flying roof to cover her. He had taken a about, for I thought she was insulted fear of Irons, maybe, or perhaps his | maybe by some of Costley'’s fellows, suspicion was due to my masterful and I ran to the door But there was air But I was not going to let him she with her arms about the neck of escape that way, specially as he was } this Jack-a-dandy a part of the plot I was laying against So I put my hands on “What's this, miss?” said I, begin- | old Nunkey ning to think there was some truth | his shoulder “Sit down,” said I, cheerily “You n old Nunkey's words after all; and at that she stepped into the inn, in her excitement, and I saw’her plainly for the first time Lord Lord! there was nothing in her face that |} would not have convinced any court “What, Dick Ryder!” says hy sur- prise. “Yes, ‘tis Dick Rrder!” sa and he wants a bed along of Sal for a little madam, and supper for both.” “"Tis unexpected orders, captain,” -- ‘Slife! here’s a than a dead maggot jolly boy, Dick, that is handy with his barker, I'll vow But I stopped him ere he went too far, and he and | pre the ar rangements. We left miss behind in Sally’s charge with strict instructions, and ‘twas nigh three before we reach d the house. There I set the popinthe window Γι shiver, pot- i} so be the time should Irons and I went to the back of the ise and mack Uny of the yard. There was little trouble in the job, as it chanced, for lrons is skilled in the business, which | should scorn to holding for a scurvy, mean livered craft, unworthy of a gent! man but I was committed to do it for this occasion only, and so was resoived to go through with it fetched out his tools and got to work and in a short time we were through the window of the kitchen, and Irons with his glim was creeping up the stairs. But he stopped half-way and whispered back to me—as if he had only then recalled something “What ken's this he asked, using his scant word Why, an honest merchant’s house,” said I, “and he traffics in calicos.” “Look ye, Dick Ryder,” says he sitting down on the stairs, “I may be a dullard, but rip me if 1 knew how you stand in this!” “Why,” says I, “you need only know where you stand, Irons, and that’s pretty sure. You know me.” He stared at me a moment, and then said he, “Well, I'll empty old Nunkeyof his spanks, and we'll settle afterwards,” and he resumed his jour ney Now, what I had arranged with the apprentice was that I should knock upon the window when the time was come, at which he would spring in with the cries of alarm and fury, falling upon the rascals that had dared break into the merchant’s house, At which Irons and I were to make off and the old gentleman, rising in ter ror from his bed, should discover us in flight, and his deliverer, George, full armed, in possession Yet it did not fall out quite in this way, owing, is I believe, to Old Irons muddled head and his stopping on the stairs At any rate, we were no sooner | come to the hall, after Irons had vis ited two rooms, than we were sur. prised by the figure of the old gentle man moving down the staircase in his night-dress and a large blunderbuss ip his hand “Stand!” he, seeing Irons in the faint lig “Stand, rogue, or I fire!” “What Has Happened?” must not begone till you have put something inside that brave coat of yours. Moreover,” says I, here is a lady in trouble, and if I read your honest face aright, you are not the man| to leave a poor maid in the lurch, not you.” “Rip me, no!—he’s a brave young gentleman. [ can see it in his Old Irons uttered a curse, and, edg ing into the shadows put up an arm to slip the catches of the window. But his knuckles fell on it with a rap as he drewthe catch, and immediate ly after there was a loud, shrill ery, the window fell open, and there wag our peacock in the midst, calling in his falsetto: f “Surrender, or I will blow a hole in you! Surrender by ! I could have broken out laughing at the sight, only the situation promised to grow risky. For Old Irons takem aback at this, and never very particular when on his lay, jumped up sharp. cheeks,” chuckled Old Irons. “I—I do not know iy and smashed at the t’other witb what can be | pistol-butt; while, to make confusion done,” said the other, in confusion. “I worse, the old man in the nightcaplet am willing to help in any way. But | off his blunderbuss. Such a sereechher uncle refuses.” ing arose as would have astonished “Well,” said I, looking on him ata churchyard of ghosts, for the truth tentively, “you may be thankful that was, old Nunky hit George somewhere: you have met one who, however infein his hinderparts, and simultaneously rior in courage does not need to ery down came Irons’ blows on his head. mercy to your wits. For here's my That set his fingers to work on the plan plain and pat,” and I gave it trigger of the pistol] I had given him, “'Tis a friend,” I heard her whis- them there and then. It had come and ere I was aware, something had into my head as I walked along the took me in the big toe and set me per; “if it were not for him I know road with Miss Nelly, but I had the cursing. not what must happen to me.” “Here!” says I, grabbing Old Iron¢ “Well,” says I, “miss here will sup whole form perfect only when I enin the darkness, for he was reddy to at any rate,” at which I saw his color countered the apprentice and heard Irons was in the tavern. Old Irons destroy both in his wildness, “this move, is no place for Βα tender-hearted “I will take the pleasure myself to and I were to makean entry into the house, and the peacock was to make keep you company, sir,” said he, and chicken like you or me. We're no the rescue, by which means, as you match for savage forthwith we marched into the room fire-eaters like Here was Old Irons, rude, jovial and will see, the way would be clear for these. We'd best go,” and I dragged Nunkey’s reconciliation with his him through the window and we made blatant as ever, but happily not too far gone as yet. He stared at my niece’s choice. But no sooner had I off together. When we reached the told them than cried the peacock, inn, I called out the girl. guests hard enough, but seemed to be stammering— “What has happened?” she cried at a loss what to make of them or “But—but—I could not—'tis not | eagerly how to deal by them. So that he was seemly I will be no party. ’Tis time “Well,” said I, “I think you had best for a time prettysilent, casting glances I was gone home.” walk home sharp. I'll wager Nunkey of perplexity at me and frowning, as if “Oh, very well,” says I, “then we will be calling for you presently to he would invite me to say what I reward a gallant youth that has riskwas doing. He was drinking, however, ) will adventure without you, and tis I will rescue miss from old Irons.” ed his life for to save him.” of humpty-dumpty, which soon loosen ᾽ The girl’s lighted up “You ed his tongue Her eyes glistened Lord! I will do it, "says she beaming believe the poor fool thought her “What cock and pullet have you ‘l believe it convince my uncit George had been brave got here, Dick?” says he, in 8 loud She claspof all I have said of you.” whisper. “Oh, I must thank you, ed her hands. He hesitated and being pushed into she cried sir “Friends of mine,” says I the corner, knew what to say Nay, never t! τ της,” said I, “for “Oh!” says he, and stared; then “But,” says he in a troubled voice, Old Irons has taken if I mistake not, passed off into a chuckle, and with and glancing from Old Irons to me thanks th, and would have for us his eyes twinkling on miss; at which from me to Old Irons, anxiously my apprentice in the fine clothes, not “I do not know who these gentlemen knowing, poor fool, what sort of a are |--man he had to’ deal with, fire “Sink me!” ays Old Irons in a coz and demanded haughtily why he lz him harder.” ening voice, “d’ve think we are really “Hit!” she eries, and clutches at ed at a lady But Irons o on the toby? Why bless you, young me the more, paying no more heed t master, we are both noblemen in dis. “Nay, never fear,” I said. “’Twas him than if he were a babe in arms uise, so we are and not Irons, but Nunkey’s would think blunderbuss. “Shut your mouth!” says I to him ame of this job if it was not to Faith, he took both wounds like a seeing the girl’s color fiy about ike an honest g irl come by her on lamb. I would I had his ς re. and “Why,” s he, on th 1 still We're only a-posing as crib-cracker: was to be ort ike But you've turned Anaba t Dick he is in no dange What fad’s this? I will say it’s as Ger : says the girl, in a voice “Oh, sir!” says she, gratefully, and toothsome and sweet mutton as of soft entreaty that would have perif she were fool she was pretty “If you close not your cheese | suaded a topsman enough, and her innocence touched trap,” said I sharply, “I will take leave “No good will come of it,” said he me, for she had scarce understood to do it for you with my pistol butt with an air of prote ‘*T will fail,” anything of what we spoke At that Old Irons stared at me, But and he cast-his eyes in despair run home,” sa > I, “and I'll for he was never very quarrelsome Agreed like a brave lad!” said 1 | Warrant you'll find him a-rubbing of save in his cups, and he had a reclapping him on the back: “and you his head, and Nunkey a hugging him spect for me. “τ tain,” says he shall drink to us and success,” with for joy and ide,” don't go for to say you're going to which [ filled him uy ) a pot of humptyBut even ere I had finished she was commit assault on Old Irons, and shut dumpty, well laced I y into the ey of his pretty peepers forever ‘I'll warHe drank and coughed, but the comiwn, and, as I heard afrant this pretty lady would be affright pound mounting in his blood, fired wards m Costley, what I had ed by it, and the gentleman, too, presently, so that he b But I ty accurate. me! when they see Old Irons a-lying lightly and proffer advice and the the miss an had f in his gcre—” st of what he would do and what 0 Ss was to divide with Old “Oh,” says I, impati y, “have part he would Irons. "Twas the first time that I done and pull for I maybe Why, yes.” “a pishad ever engaged in a job with him. want you afore the day comes d at the head, and bang goes and I vow‘twill be the last: so scur“Now, that’s like Dick Ryder’s old ing, out. flows the red blood VY was hein the partition. But then, self,” says the old fool, and feigned me! there you are as cold as I had always a detestation of so unto wipe a tear from his eye and reclay, and with τ more life in you ! gentlemanly a game as cracking cribs.