Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

nr THE BALLET-GIRL’S REVENGE. 95 However, Chowler pressed her to wait and see the mystery out. To the worthy little manager there was something vastly interesting and exciting in all this. It was dramatic. They crept across the lawn to the window which had been the object of the masked man’s attack, and peered in. A glance showed the two watchers why the man had not entered by the front door at first. The room was the bedchamber of an invalid. They could see an old man with venerable snow- white hair and beard lying asleep upon a bed. A peaceful expression was upon his face. His lips murmured some words, too, which were apparently heard by the masked man who stood by his bedside, but which were quite inaudible to Rose Mortimer and her companion, Suddenly they perceived a second figure within the room. It was a woman, With slow and measured strides she approached the bedside. Now they perceived that she also wore a short black visor. Her right hand grasped a dark lantern, which she held above her head. She surveyed the room around, as if to be the more sure that they were unobserved. Her close scrutiny seemed to result in a conclusion perfectly satisfactory to herself, She held the lantern down. Then turned its rays upon the sleeper. A nervous twitch agitated his placid countenance for an instant. Then his expression was serene again. She beckoned her masked companion to her side. Then a whispered conversation took place, which apparently interested both parties, to judge by their earnest gestures, — Then they parted. The masked man resumed his station by the bed- side. The woman moved with a phantom-like gliding mo- tion about the room, opening several drawers and boxes. At each her expression of disappointment was strongly marked. Papers in bundles were eagerly searched, but with very little result, as far as Rose Mortimer could judge. At leneth, however, a smile of satisfaction showed that the masked woman had found the document of which she was in search. She eagerly perused it. Then hastily concealed it. “She’s found something there,’’ whispered the manager to Rose. ~ “ Tt appears so.”’ **T wonder what it is.” “Some paper of importance I should say, by her evident satisfaction,” replied our heroine, in a whisper. A will perhaps.’’ 3 ‘“‘ But what can they be about to do with the old man ?’’ “TI cannot say.” This was very soon answered. The old man moved restlessly in his sleep, and now they could see by the movement of his lips that he was muttering something. The woman pointed to the sleeper and raised her right hand—letting it fall of a sudden with a fatally Significant motion. What could she mean ? Another instant decided this also. ay The sleeper moved, turned restlessly upon his side, and then opened his eyes. As he looked about him dreamily, his glanée chanced to light upon the woman, who stood close be- side him. “Ts that you, Evelin, my love?’’ they could now hear him say. Then the woman made some reply, which they were unable to catch. From her movements they judged that it was some business of which they were unable to divine the meaning. Then the expression upon the old man’s face changed upon the instant. Like a summer storm, he was rapidly changed from sunshine to thunder. He looked unutterable things. The two watchers were not a little astonished at this, for, they could scarcely have deemed his earnest pale face capable of expressing so much intense pas- sion. Then an animated discussion took place—angry and fierce. To judge by their gestures, it was something equally unpleasant on both sides. The attitude of the woman was one of supplica- tion—of earnest entreaty. That of the old man of stern refusal to her prayers. At length the woman appeared to be wearied of the discussion, She put a final question. The old man replied as before by a positive and angry refusal. Then her whole face changed colour. Her expression changed, also, to one the most demonical, the most diabolical that the human counte- nance can wear. She hissed out a whispered threat or defiance— evidently the former. Her eyes flashed fire, and her parted lips showed a set of pearl-white teeth clenched in the deadliest hatred. She moved astep forward. Then suddenly snatched up a pillow, pushed back the old man in his bed, and thrust the pillow over his face. 7 Rose tried to scream. Her tongue clove to the roof of her mouth-—utter- ance was denied her. After a minute a sound came from her—but a whisper. *“ Great Heavens!’’ she muttered, with a shudder, which communicated itself to Mr. Chowler, ‘‘ she is eoing to smother him ! ”’ Hush {27 “Oh! Murder! murder!” But the words died upon her lips. ‘¢ Hush!’ said Chowler. ‘* We shall come to cer- tain grief if we are not careful.” ‘¢ Oh, how awful! ” ‘But silence.” ‘“Oh!.. See! . See.! ” Another episode in this tragic business was now taking place. A few feeble struggles beneath the coverlid of the bed. A slight rising in the murderous pillow. Then all was still for a moment. The man whom they had at first come to watch had all this time been standing in the back part of the apartment, evidently unobserved by the old man. The woman now beckoned him with the hand which still grasped the lantern. It was truly a fearful deed. Murder most horrible. A trembling old man, apparently an invalid, and one who in the ordinary course of nature could a inn