Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

THE BALLET-GIRL’S REVENGE. 149 eee a tt tt ts a eS tees sneer “‘ That we are alone!’’ “Ruffian!” ejaculated the indignant girl. “The mask has fallen and shown you in your true colours at last.’ “That’s dramatic, my dear,’’ said the libertine, a admirable sang-froid. ‘ Poetical and dramatic both.” “ But know, unworthy man,” said Miss Chepstow, “that at least you are deceived there—I am not alone.”’ Mr. Brownbill grew a little uneasy. “What mean you? Ah! you would deceive me. I know you are alone. For your comfort let me as- sure you that I took all the necessary precautions.”’ This avowal of such unblushing villainy staggered the blindly confiding girl for a second. “‘ Oh, inhuman monster!”’ she exclaimed. ‘‘ Begone from my sight.” ‘‘Nonsense, my dear Lotty. If you must be coy and nonsensical, put your gammon into better lan- guage. It is highly unpleasant, I can assure you.” * Brazen ruffian !” “Come, come, my love,”’ said the cool roué. ‘‘ Give your Arthur a kiss.”’ He advanced towards her as he spoke, but she sprang to the further end of the apartment like a startled fawn. **Unmannerly dog !”’ she ejaculated. “ Approach but a step nearer, and I alarm the whole neighbour- hood with my cries.” *‘ And gain a nice modest maidenly reputation,”’ said Mr. Brownbill. **Oh! cunning villain !”’ said the girl, with wither- ing scorn. ‘‘ But think not to frighten me with that, Dare to pollute the edge of my dress with your loath- some touch, and, by the heavens above us, I swear that you shall not escape unpunished. Did I become an object for the finger of scorn to point at—for a gape- ing crowd to call after—I swear it should be so.”’ This vehemence completely staggered Mr. Arthur Brownbill. . ‘‘ This is all very well,’ he said, ‘‘ but I am not to be put off with that bosh. As a man of the world, my dear Lotty, I should risk nothing by exposure, The very fact of your letting me into your house at this hour would clear me of any criminal accusation which you might have the insanity to bring against me. You would inevitably sink down to the lowest degradation by such an act of folly, voila tout.’ At the last word he sprang round the table which separated them. Then, feinting as she ran off the other side, he dodged and caught her in his embrace. “ Caught !” “© Ah!” shrieked the girl. “ Help! oh! help!” ‘Foolish girl !” said the libertine. ‘‘ We are alone here.”’ . ‘“ No such thing. I was alone, but am no longer,” ‘The devil !” “ Help! help !” ¥ “You would deceive me.” “<T swear I speak the truth.” “ No matter. You are, you must, and shall be mine.’’ The helpless girl continued to struggle boldly with her assailant. Her shrieks and cries were heartrending. But Mermet only listened with renewed interest. He did not offer to interfere. ‘‘ No, no,’’ he said to himself. ‘This is too good to spoil. I must wait my time, and then—”’ With one arm clasped around the maiden’s waist, the ruffian held her there with all the strength of maddened passion. Fainter and fainter grew the virgin’s efforts at each struggle. And yet the heartless man below would not come to her aid. ‘“Merey! mercy!” were the last words that Mer- met caught, * * oe % * There was aloud and prolonged shriek. A scuffle. This was followed by a sudden scrambling, and the girl flew wildly up the stairs. Then there was a second rush, which told Mermet that the libertine was following in pursuit. Arrived at the top of the house, she turned to face her pursuer. mee was no further escape, unless by flying to the roof, On came the libertine, and the girl did not hesitate an instant. She scrambled up the ladder, and endeavoured to pull it up after her, but too late. Brownbill’s foot was upon the ladder ere she could move it. Up he ran, and dashed across the roof to the terri- fied maiden. . ‘* Advance another step,’’ she said, ‘fand my blood be upon your head !”’ She stood upon the edge of the parapet, ready to precipitate herself into the street below. ‘* Lotty, Lotty!’ cried the ruffian, starting back affrightedly, ‘‘ what would you do ?”’ ‘Stand off!’’ she cried. He coaxed and begged her to turn from such mad- ness, but in vain. g Whilst speaking thus to her he continued to draw nearer and nearer at each word. Then suddenly, with a rush and a grab, he seized her wrist. ‘* Now I have you, foolish girl !” The girl swung round with her brutal captor. The positions were suddenly reversed. He, the assailant of the maiden’s chastity, stood over the parapet. The outraged girl pushed forward in the very nick of time. “Great God!’’ cried the libertine. He caught at the edge of the parapet. Too late. He cut the flesh from his hands, but all in vain. Down down he fell. Down to perdition, with all his hot and sinful lusts upon‘his head. Thus died the libertine. Slain by the victim to his infamy and outrage. CHAPTER LX. ROSE AND HER FORTUNES—BLANCHE BOWERINI —THEIR WANDERINGS — THE ROAD—THE INN — THE LADY AND HER BLACK ATTENDANT — MISGIVINGS — ALONE IN THEIR POWER — TERRORS. But with these scenes of excitement we fear that we are sadly neglecting the fortunes of our heroine Rose. “ After the @candalous outrage by Signor Bowe- rini in the circus, the unhappy victim to his ferocity managed to elude his vigilance, and escape from his paternal care. In the circus the people were so thoroughly indig- nant at what had occurred that they would have torn him piecemeal. Blanche Bowerini was rescued from the brutal clutehes of her tyrant, and he was seized by a dozen indignant hands and borne to the ground. Conn COOKS C©