Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

120 ROSE MORTIMER. ee eatin _The thought was maddening. As he stood there, looking into the sea, his cheek grew pale and he bit his nether lip with a fixed determination which there was no misunderstanding. He had resolved to recover the jewels or perish in the attempt. Clara St. John saw it and was horror-stricken. For once her woman’s heart, her fears, or what- ever sensation she might experience towards the mis- guided young victim to her wiles, triumphed over her avarice, and she sprang forward ere he could accom- plish his fatal purpose. ‘Edgar !’’ she cried, ‘‘ hold, I entreat..”’ ‘‘ What for, Clara?”’? said he. ‘‘ There is no danger in the dive.” ‘‘ Danger!’’ echoed the woman. “‘ It is certain death, believe me.” “Nay.” ‘* Edgar, you shall not attempt it!” Edgar urged no more. The tone of command which she employed seemed to have great weight with him, and showed plainly enough how thoroughly he was in her power. Many weary hours they spent there in fruitless search. Hopeless and sad search. Not the faintest vestige could they discover of their jewels nor of the two un- fortunate fishermen. Faint and exhausted from long suffering, they turned at length from the scene of their disaster. They had passed several hours upon the rocks, after the fatal end of the two men, in the hunt after the packet, and were now growing faint from hunger. Clara in particular grew so exhausted that Edgar Deville, whose condition was scarcely leas pitiable, had to support her. And they walked inland. After a short time they came to a cornfield, where they plucked a few ears and devoured them.* A little further on there was a barn, and beyond it a farmhouse. As they neared the latter a most savoury odour was emitted, combining the flavours of new milk, eggs, and ham. They looked wistfully towards the door and at each other, then walked past. *‘T can walk no further,”’ said Clara. “And I’m sick and weary enough, Heaven knows,” said Edgar Deville. “Go to the farmhouse and beg some assistance,’ said the woman. ee Beg 12? “Some assistance until we can get our property from the wreck.” The flush which had suffused the young man’s cheek at the thought of asking charity sobered down, and he volunteered to go to the house. His appearance amongst the serving men and.maids created quite a small sensation. He explained in as few words as possible that he and a lady who was with him were the sole survivors of the fatal wreck which had taken place off their coast that night. They were greatly astonished, for no one had dreamed that there had been any. However, being kindly disposed and hospitable people,they made them welcome and bade them eat— a command which was gratefully received by our two shipwrecked adventurers, as may be well conceived. They were closely questioned touching the par- ticulars of the fire and the wreck, and contrived to give such an account of the whole proccedings as did not touch upon the untimely end of the two fisher- men. They were clothed and provided with a lodging, which was placed at their service until their property should be recovered from the wreck. Then the agent for Lloyd’s, where the ill-fated vessel was insured, took their business in hand, and in the most kindly way returned them their packages as they were recovered from the wreck. It was an act quite contrary to all practice. Something in Clara St. John, however, appeared to fascinate the underwriter’s agent, as it did everybody who came in contact with this strange and terrible woman. They were, however, in the very greatest perplexity still. If the jewels were not recovered the fugitives were rnined. Without resources of any kind. Penniless ! But, on the other hand, if by a fortunate chance they should be recovered, it would undoubtedly excite attention, and probably cause inquiries. ‘ At all events, it would be highly unpleasant to account for their possession. Some explanation would become an absolute neces- sity. ‘“No,”’ she said in a chat with Edgar over their hopes and fears in their guilty career. ‘‘ There is but one resource for us.”’ ‘‘Nameit,”’ said Deville. I am weary and heart-sick.’” ‘* We must fly.” ; *€ But how 2” ’ | “We must endeavour to secure a passage to Eng- land by the first vessel.’’ | Edgar was startled. ** Return ?”’ he exclaimed. *‘Ay. It is our only resource.’’ 029 ‘“‘ But what course do you propose to pursue when we are in England ?”? **T have thought over that.” *¢ With was result ?”’ : . *‘I have a cousin residing so far removed from London that we should be perfectly screened from all observation.”’ *‘ But I thought that you had no relations in Eng- land.” ** None of my father’s.” “‘T see. Then these are maternal cousins ?”’ 66 Yes.” , ** But one word, Clara, ere we decide upon adopt- ing this hastily-formed resolve. How can we hope to escape observation for long with your cousin ?” ** Leave that to me.” ‘* But consider the risk.’’ - ** Edgar, you grow pusillanimous,’”’ said the bold masculine woman testily. ‘* What risk can there pos- sibly be 2?” ‘€ Every risk.”’ ** What proof?” ** Of our guilt?” ce Ay.” Our flight is sufficient,’’ ““Pshaw! Since we live in comparative poverty, itis none.” “* What other object could prompt us to fly toge- ther ?” The sternness in Clara’s manner vanished upon the instant, and she looked with such tenderness upon the young man that he melted at once. “‘ Edgar,”’ she murmured, “ they might hint of a strange infatuation.”’ As the words were spoken Edgar caught her in his arms and stopped her further utterance with burning kisses. ‘Enough, Clara!’’? he exclaimed. will. I ask no more.” ‘‘For, in truth, Clara, “Do as you oO EEE = =e gomicbooks.com