Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

~ THE BALLET-GIRL’S REVENGE. 3 “No! no!” she exclaimed wildly ; ‘‘do not strike him again, I implore you.” ** Well, if you don’t wish it, I won’t,’’ said the scene-painter reluctantly ; “‘ but it docs seem a pity.” “For Heaven’s sake !—unless you would be my ruin—”’ The painter looked at her with the greatest sur- prise. He was well used to mystery and adventure on the Si but he had never met before with it in real life. He looked down at the poor girl, who clung im- ploringly on his arm. She was deadly pale, and quivering like an aspen eaf. ** At any rate, Miss Mortimer, allow me to see you home.”’ She made no reply, but her little white hand rested trustmgly on his arm, and she walked by his side, though with weak and uncertain steps. “Her brutal assailant stared after them, his evil eyes lighted up with a glare of savage hatred. “Curses upon her!” he muttered, shaking his fist at their retréating forms ; * why was I fool enough to risk so mueh when I could have had her still more securely in my power? There are hundreds prettier than she, who would open their arms to me willingly, but I must needs long after her baby face ; long for it? ay, that I do! and by all the powers of heaven and hell I swear she shall yet be mine !” CHAPTER II. A WRETCHED HOME—A POOR GIRL’S TRIALS— THE MIDNIGHT ASSIGNATION — MYSTERY !— THE ATTEMPTED MURDER—THE CRUEL TERMS — DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND — THE NOBLE FORGER — THE FATAL MEETING — THE RAKE MAKKS HIS VICTIM. “CoME in, can’t you? Now don’t stand letting in all‘ that cold. Confound it, this infernal hole is bad enough without that !”’ So spoke in a peevish complaining tone a man huddled together over a handful of fire, and seated in a room as miserable as can be imagined. A room in which stood two rickety cane chairs, and a deal table which seemed to be only deliberating as to which of its remaining legs should give way in order to bring a cracked plate and a stale loaf to the level of the carpetless floor. “Oh, it’s you, Rose,” said the man, slightly turning his head; ‘‘ what a time you’ve been!” She made no reply, but busied herself in taking a few small articles of food from her pockets, and ar- ranging them round the loaf. ‘‘Can’t youspeak, eh? You go out and leave your father the whole evening, and haven’t a word to say when you comein. Where have you been ?”’ “‘To the theatre, father.” “¢ Well, what success?” “* None.” Poor Rose, unable to restrain her feelings any longer, burst into tears. ‘‘ Curse it! I’m hanged if your whimpering isn’t enough to drive a man mad. Cry, cry, cry; you're always turning on the water as if your father had been a turncock instead of a gentleman.” “ T can’t help it, father—indeed I can’t, I—I—” “¢ Speak out, can’t you ?”’ << T have been frightened, and—and—”’ “ Frishtened? Psha! Did you see a ghost in the alley ?” ‘* No; but as. I passed along a man seized me by the wrist and held me fast.” ‘““Ha! ha! ha! A pretty thing to frighten you! Who was it ?” Rose made no answer. * Did you know him ?”’ ce Yes.” She replied so faintly, though, that her father scarcely heard the word, oN KA de : “*Oh, father ! you must guess who. it was. There is but one man we have cause to dread.”’ “You don’t mean to tell me it was—”’ “Yes, yes, father. It was Abel Booth.” ‘Well, you’re a strange girl. What did you say to him ?” ‘“T don’t know what would have happened but that a gentleman kindly rescued me, and—’’ ““Rescued? Confound his meddling impudence ! What do you mean? You can’t stand there and tell me you refused to listen to him ?”’ “Father! father!’ said the trembling girl, in tones of piteous supplication; ‘‘ what would you have had me do ?”’ “Do? Ilikethat! That’s a nice selfish speech! Do you know he can send me to prison to-morrow ? Do you know he can ruin me with a word? Do you know he is as spiteful and revengeful as Old Harry himself? A pretty business you’ve made of it!—but you never had-an atom of feeling in your nature.”’ Again poor Rose broke down, and sobbed aloud. “There, leave off whining and make yourself scarce; I expect a visitor.” ‘A visitor, father? and at this hour of the night ?” ‘¢ What the devil do you mean by talking so to me? — Am I bound to get your permission befcre I ask a friend to call upon me ?”’ Poor Rose only sighed! she was too well accus- tomed to hard words to be surprised at them. From her earliest infancy, curses and threats and abuse had sounded in her ears. She had some faint recollection of a happier time, when she saw finely-dressed ladies and gentlemen about her; but if was a dim hazy remembrance as of a dfeam, and she hardly knew whether it had any other origin than her own imagination. Slowly and sorrowfully at her father’s command she gathered together the scanty out-door clothing she had discarded on entering the room; but ere she quitted the cold dreary chamber a peculiar knock sounded at the door. ; It was followed almost instantaneously by the lifting of the latch, and with quick strides a stranger entered the room. ‘Hullo! what’s the meaning of this ?’’ he asked angrily as his eyes lighted on Rose; ‘‘ couldn’t you take care we were alone ?”’ *“Leave the room,’’ said the other man, with a threatening gesture; ‘“‘leave the room, or I’ll not leave a whole bone in your body.—It’s only my daughter, sir,” he added, turning to his visitor, and addressing lim in an apologetic cringing tone, which contrasted strongly with that which he had used to his daughter the moment before. Rose retired without a word, though not until she had closely observed the features of her father’s visitor. He was considerably above the middle height, and possessed an appearance which seemed to stamp him as belongiug to the upper class of society, despite his being attired in a shabby coat wrapped round with a well-worn plaid. His face was strikingly handsome, but in his eyes, which were dark and deeply set, there was a cold glitter, which at times imparted toh is face an almost diabolical look. A jet black moustache carefully tended showed oft his white shining teeth, which at times seemed to SOMMIGDOOKSEECONN