Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

130 ROSE MORTIMER ; OR, a “<Not I — that I’m aware of. I have scarcely seen a garden but my own for weeks.’ ‘‘There was no mistaking the surprise upon his countenance at these words. ‘*<T think you saw one on Tuesday last,’ he said. “““No, I never stirred from my house upon that day.’ “*€ Could you swear this ?’ **¢T could.’ “‘é That you did not leave your house upon Tuesday at night ?’ ‘** T swear it,’ said I solemnly. ‘‘He regarded me sternly in the face, but I was speaking the truth, and I met his glance steadily. “* ¢ Had we known that before,’ he muttered. ‘ But no—impossible.’ ‘* T imagined that he still disbelieved my oath, and again assured him, offering him proof of what I ut- tered, and thus I made a discovery concerning you, dear,”’ “‘Me ?” said Rose, 6é Yes.’”’ “In what way 2”? She faltered as she spoke, and it was plain enough that she well knew how nearly it touched her. “Go on, my dear,’ said Davis. **¢T know well,’ said I, ‘that I was in the whole of Tuesday, for this reason. I had a new lodger come, and a singular thing happened in connection with her which kept me in.’ This was of course in allusion to your illness, my dear, and your engagement afler- wards in Mr. Chowler’s company, He seemed tojump at what I said upon this subject and questioned me closely. ‘* © Why did you not say all this before?’ asked my jailor. **“ Because I was not asked,’ I replied. ; ¢ Fool!’ hecried. ‘But you alone will have to suffer or it.’ ‘*¢ What do you mean?’ I asked. “¢ ¢ You will know to-morrow.’ ‘He nodded sternly and left the room. ‘* As soon as he was gone I took my food (which I had been sitting upon) and eagerly devoured it. Re- vived a little at this, I sat down to think, but I could arrive at nothing like a decision upon the matter. “That night before retiring to rest, which I did upon @ couch in the room where I had eaten, and in which was the picture which had caused me such satisfaction, I took great care to place enough of the furniture before the door to make a good barricade. ““T addressed my picture again and again that night, but failed to elicit any reply, and at length I fell asleep. “‘In the morning I had rather a severe shock, As I rose from the-conch and glanced around I per- ceived some dark object in the corner of the room. “JT drew near to ascertain its nature, and found it to be a monstrous rat, dead. ‘* Beside it lay a small piece of the meat which I had thrown down to deceive my captor.’’ “‘ What wretches!”’ cried Davis. ‘¢ Remorseless villains !”? said Rose. *‘T removed the furniture with which I had barri- caded my door during the night, and presently my jailor came in, holding his mask in his hand. As he caught sightof me he seemed as if he would have fallen through the floor, I forgot to mention that he had advanced into the room, and had stooped to the floor to openatrap. Ishudder now as I remember that trap. But, glancing up, and perceiving me ad- vancing, he started up, slammed down the trap, and resumed his mask, “Tt is clear now to me that he, like you, Michael, almost doubted if I was alive or not. He ap- re ae EE a COMICHOO peared so thoroughly frightened. But with this all his presence of mind was much to be admired. His very first care was to put on his mask.” ‘Did you see his face ?” cf Wes:?? . “ And would remember it ?”’ eagerly demanded our heroine. “T’m sure I should.”’ *‘Go on, my dear,’’ said the eager Davis again, im~- patiently. ‘I’ve not much more to add,” said his wife. ‘ But what I have is, perhaps, the most important in the story—certainly the most important tome. A dayor two passed I know not how. My captor was tho- roughly at alossto account for my obstinacy in not dying. My portrait still continued to supply me with food, and I did not lose all hope. ‘‘One day—I don’t know how many after my imprisonment in that dreadful place—I receiveda note from my invisible friend which caused my heart to leap with joy. This is it.” Here she took another paper from her pocket and read as follows :— * Don’t sleep to-night. Move the couchin this room over the middle of the room, facing the door. Count three yards from the door and the same from the chimney,’ “T did not understand this at first, but I obeyed it to the letter. ‘‘T soon discovered the benefit of it. Islept, as I told told you, upon the couch, and in the dead of the night I received a terrible explanation of the previous mystery. ** The couch moved ! ‘©¢Who’s there?’? I cried aloud, and I stamped upon the floor. ‘“‘This happily had the effect of silencing any one who thought of violence that night. ‘‘But this was growing too horrible. I was dying by slow torments. The next day, when I arose unrefreshed _ from the couch, I prayed to the picture, and besought itin tears toaid me. My blessings, my eternal blessings, upon the hand which directed the answering solace to my fears. Another note came, which I have not now— I fear I have left it behind me—bidding me to be prepared to leave that night, ** Assistance was at hand, and I was to hope for the best. rigs ‘Oh! how my heart leapt with joy and hope! What sensations I experienced are beyond my power to describe, That night, when midnight had sounded, I heard a low grating noise in the room, and I became aware that I was not alone. - This rather startled me, as I had securely barri- raded the door as usual, and I not heard it attempted. *° ¢ Come,’ said a voice. ‘*¢Tsit the picture?’ I demanded, scarcely knowing what to say. ‘6 It 1s. Come.’ “Tam ready,’ saidI, ‘and may Heaven reward your goodness.’ = * Hush?” , ‘And a hand was held out in the darkness, and grasped mine. *“*Come with me fearlessly,’ said the voice, in a whisper. ‘I have proyed how friendly I am towards you, have I not ?’ ** “You have.’ . . **¢Then as we go along do not breathe a word—no matter what you may see or hear.’ “¢ “Very well,’ I said. ‘“¢ Then he took me in the direction of the picture, amet I es to squeeze through a narrow aperture in the wall, CS, COMTI: