Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 137: what you’re looking at

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THE BALLET-GIRL’S REVENGE. 13] ** However, I felt confident that my conductor was true to me, and I proceeded fearlessly. “We passed through some singular passages in that strange place.” ** One word,’’ said Rose. you have been to 2” *T don’t know.” “* Not know ?”? said her husband. “No. You shall hear why I don’t.. Presently; after treading our way softly through no end of pas sages, we came to alittle door, which my conductor opened with akey. Then oh! what pleasure, what delight! I found myself outside the house,. breathing the fresh air of heaven, after such a cruel time.”’ ** Poor Moggy.” | ** You must have suffered much,’’ said Rose. “T have,’”’ said Mrs. Davis, shaking her head and smiling through her tears. ‘‘ But thenit’s all over now.” She gave a hand to her husband and to Rose—who were seated one upon each side of her—kissed them upon the cheek, and then resumed her story. “When we got outside we crossed a garden, got into a main road, and—”’ ' “©You do not know where that is ?”? demanded Rose incredulously. ce NO. “ Strange.” . - “ Well, here a horse awaited us, tied to a hedge by the bridle. My conductor got on the liorse and lifted me on behind him. He asked me where I wanted to be taken to. “T told him, and he said that he would leave me somewhere near, but that he dared not go to the place. I thanked him again and again, and begged him to say how I could repay him for his goodness, and what do you think he replied ?” _ “Perhaps he wanted a kiss, Mogey,’” said her husband slyly. “3 ““No—I’d have given him a hundred.” ‘¢ Gad, would you, though ?”’ . “Ay, Michael, dear. He was a good old man, so like father.” *< But what did he answer ?” - “That the only return he asked was my silence upon anything I knew which could compromise his superiors.” ~ “hen he was a servant in the house ?” ‘TJ suppose so. He took me down to the moor yonder and left me. That’s all.” And she began to cry a little more. ‘‘ Where is this. house CHAPTER LII. ROSE MEETS WITH AN ADVENTURE — THE AVERTED DANGER — DAVIS SHOWS FIGHT — ROSE’S DEPARTURE—HER NEW FRIENDS—THE CIRCUS—THE BRUTAL ACROBAT—A DISGRACE- FUL SCENE — “‘SHAME!’’— BLANCHE BOWERINI —A RIOT. Tue return home of the hostess of the roadside inn soon became inown, and was talked about all over the district. Rose Mortimer, of course, experienced the greatest happiness at this termination of sucha fearful business —a business of which she was the innocent cause. Not only upon her own account—and she was not a little relieved at it naturally—but upon the behalf of the disconsolate husband of the good-natured Mrs. Davis herself. _. Inquiries and searches were instituted by Mr. Davis, notwithstanding the promise his wife had given to the old man who had rescued her at such an important epoch. > However, they failed to gain the slightest trace. of the perpetrators of the outrage. Our heroine communicated the whole of Mrs. Davis’s narrative to Mr. Chowler, and they held a long consultation upon the point. “My dear Miss Mortimer,” said the little manager, ‘‘my opinion is that you are not safe here. You had better make a move.” ** What, leave you ?” As Rose said this in a tone ofregret—meaning simply the theatrical company, and not Chowler personally— the manager’s left waistcoat thumped away in a very lively manner. “You wouldn’t like to leave us?’? he demanded very artfully. ** No, no,” said Rose. ‘‘ Indeed I should not.”’ “‘That’s very kindof you, my dear Miss Mortimer,”’ said Chowler, with a killing glance. “* Not at all.” ' ‘Nay, butit is,” persisted Chowler, ‘‘ for after all—”’ ** All the company have been very kind to me,’’ said our heroine. *¢ And you will take with you the regrets of all, I’m sure,’’ said Chowler. ** T hope so, if I must leave.’’ “<I believe that to be the only safe course.’ ‘“¢ But I’veno prospect.” “That delights me, my dear Miss Mortimer,” said the manager quickly. 6 OSE *“ Allow me to repeat the obnoxious phrase, Miss Mortimer. It delights me, since it affords me the gratifying opportunity of serving you.”’ “Oh! indeed,’”’ said Rose smiling. “Yes, by introduction—’’ ‘¢To another manager?” ; ‘Ves, to anintimate friend of mine—Wippum, the proprietor of Wippum’s circus. You’ve heard of Wippum’s circus ?” ¢é No.”’ ‘¢ Strange thing! Oh! it’s a great affair, I can tell you. Wippum’s a great man.”’ ‘‘T’ve no doubt,” said Rose. “ But do you think that he can find employment for me in acireus ?” ‘Not at all, not at all,’’? said Chowler hastily. “T would not have you disgrace your talents so for worlds. But Wippum knows everybody. He’s-ashare with Duncumbe, who has the TheatreRoyal, and you’ll be put on at once.”’ That night Rose was returning, after the performance was over, to the roadside inn, when an incident oc- curred which greatly tended to hasten her movements in the step she meditated. The reader will remember that from the theatre ‘(which was situated just in the town) she had to walk about a mile to the roadside inn at which she was staying. - On the way she had to pass the fatal garden of Sloeford House. A shudder went through her frame as she glanced down the garden, and she passed on rather hur- riedly. As soon as she had passed she glanced back over her shoulder from time to time. There was a fascination in the fatal spot which upon the present occasion did our heroine good service, as we shall see. As she glanced around for the third time her eye encountered a lurking form creeping along under the shadow of the hedge. Creeping: after her! Rose was at once upon the qui vive for danger, and she darted off at arun. Presently she looked around, not hearing anything, and to her intense dismay perceived that the lurking individual was running in pursuit. —————_<@frkes©oe© CSrE®)