Herbert Graham (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1876 edition. Excerpt: ...there had been a quarrel between him and the other, that they had come to blows, and that Will, being far the stronger of the two, had beaten his opponent so savagely, that it was feared he had done him serious, if not mortal injury. They could not tell the cause of the quarrel. Both were sitting with the rest in the taproom of the public-house, and Will had charged Jack Eoper with being sullen, and had murmured threats which they did not understand. They scarcely knew what had caused the first blow, which was certainly given by Will; and the rest had followed so rapidly, that they had hardly yet had time to collect their thoughts. The landlord of the "Dolphin" had sent for the policeman when he had found it impossible to separate the men otherwise: but Jack was knocked down senseless before his arrival; and they had had much difficulty in securing Will. When Eobert Moore mentioned his business, and related what he had been able to gather from Stephen, the outcry against Will among his hearers was loud and immediate--so violent, indeed, that Hopkins led him off without delay to the lock-up, fearing almost lest they should make an attack upon him. Poor Eoper was lifted from the ground, and carried to the miserable lodging where it was known he lately dwelt. Meanwhile, Eobert Moore went his way to William Graham's house, to let Herbert's parents know the fate of their son. He met Graham at the door, coming out to look for the boy, whose continued absence he could not understand, and was at once asked by him whether he had seen anything of Herbert. This upset all Eobert's plans of telling the story by degrees, and he answered, hurriedly, that he was just coming to tell them about him. Graham's fears were roused by this, and he...