Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

94 ROSE MORTIMER, As he watched she let go her hold of the edge of | a running knot at the end of the rope, and throw it the upper, and dropped on to the lower roof. With breathless interest he rivetted his gaze upon the poor girl. She alighted on her feet, but was unable to retain her balance for more than a moment. Her feet slipped from under her, and she glided quickly towards destruction. He turned ashy pale and gasped for breath. It was a fearful sight to see this fair young girl hurrying to her death— To know that no mortal power could save her— To know, moreover, that he would be indirectly the cause of her fearful death. As she slipped and glided over the steep roof, now staying her course for a second by clutching at the tiles, only to start again when she could no longer hold them—sometimes almost succeeding in stagger ing to her feet—then again slipping, falling, “and eliding, all the while approaching every moment nearer to the edge, over which she must be carried, to fall down—down—to the level of the street, to be taken up a bruised, mutilated, unrecognisable corpse. She was already within a few feet of the edge. She uttered one wild despairing shriek, which rang like a death-knell in the ears of the man who had driven her to attempt the rash act. Shuddering, he turned away his head.. He could not bear to look upon the sight. He listened for the dull heavy thud of the fallen body in the street below, but he heard it not. Then he directed his timorous glance to the roof below him. Poor Rose had grasped at a leaden waterpipe, and had seized it eagerly. With the tenacity of one who Siler against death she held it. It was but a precarious safety. Any moment the pipe might give way, and then nothing could save her. She was so near-the edge of the roof that her feet rested against the little ridge which terminated it. This afforded her some little extra support; but already the waterpipe bulged, so that it seemed im- possible it could long withhold her from the dreadful fate. Hope that she might be rescued revived in the bosom of the man whose conduct, though be was but the agent of another, had brought her into her present position. He crawled further along the higher roof till he was immediately over the spot where Rose Bure as it were between life and death. ‘Have courage,”’ he said, ‘‘ and I will save you.”’ ‘“ Never!” answered Rose. “Sooner would I face the most terrible death than return to that hateful house.” ‘* For Heaven’s sake do not be so rash.’” ** Death is preferable to dishonour.”’ “See; I have a rope here by which I can draw you up.to comparative security. Do not sacrifice your lite for a fancy.” ‘I tell you I know the count,” said she, “and sooner than fall into his hands I svould submit to any fate.”’ ‘Your strength cannot hold out much louger,” cried the man, eagerly. ‘‘ It is suicide if you persist in your-resolution.,”’ ** Better suicide than the lot which awaits me if I fall into ‘your hands.” ‘* No—no! - You wrong me. **T cannot trust you.” ¢T swear it.” ‘¢ What is an oath to a man like you ?’’ ‘* Save yourself, I implore you. See; You shall go in peace.”’ here I make to you.”’ He suited the action to the word. “* Now then, before your strength is exhausted, slip it under your arms—one at a time—that’s right— cling to the pipe with the other hand—well managed. Now you are saved.” ‘¢ You promise me my freedom,” cried Rose. will not attempt to detain me? 7 ‘“Come; come. There is no time to be lost,” Holding the end of the rope between his teeth, he crawled to a place where a stack of chimneys gaye him a firmer foothold, and then, by means of the rope, raised Rose to the level of the roof on which he stood. ‘‘ Poor. girl! By the time she reached it she was completely exhausted. The man assisted her, almost fainting, toa position of security, though not without considerable risk to himself. With palpitating heart, heaving bosom, and quiver- ing limbs, she rested. It was some time before she recovered her compo- sure sufficiently to attempt to crawl back along the narrow ledge. And no wonder. “Vou All she had gone through would have severely tried © the nerves and muscles of a strong man; how much the more, then, those of a poor weak girl! 1 It took a long time to reach again the window through which she had made her escape, with a heart buoyed up with a hope of deliverance. Now she returned to it, weakened, bruised, and again in the hands of her persecutors, with nothing but the word of a ruffian that she should be free to depart, After a while the two once’more stood within the walls of the house to which she had been taken. in the cab by the myrmidons of the count. Once again in the room, the man seemed little dis- posed to fulfil his promise ‘of liberating Rose., He stood in the doorway, blocking it up, completely preventing the egress of any person. ‘‘Let me go,’’ cried Rose; “ remember promise.’’ “¢ Ay, ay; we will talk of that presently. 2 ‘‘ What do you mean? Oh, say you have not deceived me! Remember the oath you swore.” “¢ All in good time, my pretty one; allin good time; you must need rest and refreshment after all you have gone through.’’ ‘© J will not rest! I will not touch a morsel in this house !”” cried Rose angrily. ** Don’t say that, my beauty,” answered the man with a laugh; ‘‘ because I ¢an compel you. How- ever, as you know, I am not hard-hearted. Do you think I am ?”’ Rose made no answer. “‘You’re tho prettiest girl I have seen for many a long day, and that’s a fact, and I’m infernally glad you’re safe and sound, though you wouldn’t haye been but forme. You haven't thanked me yet.” ‘1 have nothing to thank you for,”’ answered Rose, striving to speak calmly, ‘‘if you keep me prisoner here.”’ ’ Then, her voice breaking down, her tone changed to one of wild supplication. “Oh, let me go, I beg of you! Why should you keep me here? Oh, set me fr ee, set me free !”’ ** All in good time.: You shouldn’t be in sucha hurry to leave your friends. Besides, those pretty lips must pay a toll first.” - He endeavoured as he spoke to put an arm round Rose’s slender waist, but she repulsed him indig- nantly. | ‘‘Take care,” said he, with an angry gleam in his your CoOmmicoookSs.conn