Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

Ll tr Ol? | ie ore Te) 96 LL —————ee eee eee searcely reckon upon many years of life, to have his time cut short so cruelly ! After passing through so many years of life— through its trials and temptations—hopes, fears, and sorrows—to have one’s few short remaining days cut still shorter by the hand of the-assassin ! Who could that assassin be ? This was a question which Rose and the theatrical manager asked themselves in the greatest doubt and horror. There was a strange resemblance between the woman and her victim. So marked, so striking, in spite of the opposite sexes, ages, and complexions, It was his daughter. This they felt assured of. While this and similar thoughts were hurrying through the disordered imaginations of the two trembling watchers another phase in this hellish business was about to be enacted. The masked man, in obedience to the woman’s imperious gesture, drew near to the bedside. A few words were exchanged. Then both bent their heads to the coverlid of the bed. ‘They listen if he breathes,’? murmured the hor- rified Chowler to Rose. “€Villany !” The woman after listening coolly for a while arose. Then she shook her head with determination. The pillow was taken off the pale face of the old wan, now distorted with the agonies he had under- gone. At this very instant there was a kind of nervous twitching of the lower lip. ‘‘Thank Heayen!’’? murmured Rose fervently. ‘‘ He is not dead, then.”’ “‘ Hush!” “ He lives! he lives !”’ ‘‘ Hush! my dear Miss Mortimer,’’ said Chowler. “¢ Be careful, I beg you.”’ ‘¢ They cannot hear.”’ ‘They might.” «¢ And then ?”’ ‘And then? Why I wouldn’t givean hour’s pur- chase for our two lives, that’s all.”’ ‘© We are safe.” “© T doubt it.” ; ‘They would not dare—’’ ‘‘Oh! Pooh! pooh!” said Chowler. what they have dared.”’ cé Ay, but—2. ‘‘Hush! What’s that? Oh! monstrous!” As they exchanged these few hurried words the old man appeared to recover himself somewhat. His eyes were fixed upon the woman. His venerable face now wore one expression only. It was rather of sorrow than of anger. To judge from appearances, he was grieved and heartbroken by the scene which had been enacted, rather than hurt by the agonies which he had under- gone. He glanced into the woman’s face for the first time during the interview. Then, for the first time apparently, he observed the mask. A deep sigh burst from him, and he gazed mourn- fully upon the masked face. But the woman was a fiend, a she devil of villany. No veneration for grey hairs would restrain her hand. No tie of love or friendship—nay, or blood—could stop her. The prostrate old man stood in her path, and he must be removed. - She*looked upon her wicked companion, and pointed to the old man, but spoke not a word. ‘““ You see ROSE MORTIMER. A glance conveyed all the fatal meaning which she desired. , The man drew yet nearer to the bed. Approached the half-murdered victim to their villany. He raised his arm above the dying man, his hand erasping a Jong knife. : The agonising apprehension of his doom was a fear-. ful thing to the old man. His lower jaw fell, his eyes distended, and he could not speak. The hand fell, Deep, deep into the old man’s breast sank the pon- derous blade. And asob—a'sigh of agony and grief—burst from the slaughtered man. Then all was still. * & * % % For several minutes both the watchers stood motion- less, gazing upon the scene of the bloody episode. _ Neither could speak a word. Chowler shivered so violently that his hat slipped over his eyes and tapped the window shutter. It was ever so light a touch, but they felt that they were discovered. Chowler, with wonderful presence of mind, dragged Rose aside. ~ “ Hush !”? ~ pew uae 202 ** Hist—silence on your life!” The reflection of the lantern now showed at the window. r The woman was alarmed, and probably searching for the cause of the noise which had caught her ready ear. It was an alarming moment. Would they be discovered ? CHAPTER XL. oO AFTER THE DEED — THE GARDEN — THE MASK AGAIN—THE LANTERN—THE KNIFE—NARROW ESCAPE—THE LILAC TREE—THE MASK UN- MASKED—RETURN—THE WATCHERS WATCHED —CHOWLER’S LOVE—THE WOMAN WHO FOLLOWS —CHOWLER’S RESOLVE. Rose’s courage left her. She turned giddy, and must inevitably have fallen had not the supporting arm of the theatrical manager been there to aid her. . | Chowler felt that she was tottering, and stretched forward his right hand just in the very nick of time. “Come away ; let’s go,’’ said Rose. ‘Gently, my dear Miss Mortimer. shall be discovered.” Both fel€ unwell. - . Chowler’s face was ghastly pale. His hair stuck bold upright. The deed which they had just witnessed had spoilt his rest. They moved towards the gate, and paused to look round at the fatal window. It had a kind of fascination for them which they could not at all understand. Horror and loathing filled their breasts at what they had seen. Yet they clung to the scene of the outrage. “Oh! how fearful!’ said Rose, with a shudder which shook her whole frame. ** Dreadful !’’? said Chowler, his teeth chattering audibly. ‘‘ It is too terrible,’’ ** Poor old man !”’ She shut her eyes, but in vain, Gently, or we