Rose Mortimer; Or, The Ballet-Girl's Revenge — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

ot As the dreadful idea passed through our heroine’s mind the old hag gave one last glance round the room, and approached the door. For the first time did Rose begin to reflect upon the danger she was running. How many women since the world began have paid a heavy penalty for their curiosity ! Had her turn come now ? As the old woman approached the door, Rose felt behind her for the door handle. She allowed the green baize door to close in front of her, and was now in total darkness. There was nota moment to lose, and yet, for the life of her, she could not find any fastening upon the inside of the door, which shut her out from the pas- sage. . In scrambling terror she searched for it. But her search was fruitless. Great Heaven, what would become of her? The old hag’s steps approached. In another moment poor Rose would be discovered. Wildly she pressed her hands over the surface of the door. ; She flung herself against it with all her strength, but it yielded not an inch. Again and again. And now the horror of the situation reached its climax. The door in front of her opened slowly. She was face to face with the murdress. Face to face with the fiendish old hag, who glared at her from beneath her beetling brow. Face to face, though but for one brief moment. Then the old woman, uttering a dismal howl, flung up her long arms, and fell back senseless upon the Hoor. Using all the strength which yet remained to her, Rose dashed herself against the close portal. It gave way with a crash. She flew on with lightning speed. She reached she staircase and bounded down the stairs. But suddenly a heavy hand was laid upon her shoulder. She shrieked and struggled to free herself. But her unseen assailant still held her fast. Then a deadly faintness crept over her, and the un- happy girl swooned with weakness and terror. CHAPTER XIII. MORE MYSTERIES—ROSE’S ADVENTURES IN THE OLD JEW’S HOUSE—THE DEAD BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE, Upon this dreadful scene there came a long inter- val of unconsciousness. A long deathlike sleep, as it seemed to Rose, of the duration of which she could form no idea. Life was for a time a blank to her. She awoke at length to find herself lying in bed, in a gloomy but not uncomfortable room, and came to the conclusion, when at length she recovered to some extent her scattered thoughts, that she had been very ill, At first when she opened her eyes the recollection ofthe scene of terror through which she had passed when last she was conscious returned to her, and she glaneed around in terror, expecting to find herself in the power of the old hag. With the idea of escape still predominating over all other thoughts she endeavoured to rise. But she found that this was impossible. ROSE MORTIMER ; OR, With a deep sigh she sank back on her and closed her eyes again. When she again opened them she found an old woman standing by the bedside. She started back with a shudder, for she fancied at first that it was the old hag. But a second glance convinced her that she was mistaken. And yet there certainly was a strong likeness, How could it be accounted for? Rose asked herself the question in wondering astonishment. There were certainly the features, or features strongly resembling them, but the expression was not the same. | No, the expression of this woman was even mild and gentle. ‘¢ Well, my dear,’’ she said in a low soft tone. That was certainly not the old hag’s voice. ‘“< How are younow ?”’ ‘‘Thank you,” replied Rose, “‘I am much better, But pray tell me, where am I?” ‘Do not bealarmed on that score, my dear.” ‘ No—but—”’ ‘¢ But are you yery anxious to know ?”’ ‘Indeed I am. I cannot rest until I learn the truth.”’ ‘¢ Well then, bless your pretty face, so you shall.” ‘Thank you.” ** All in good time.” Rose looked rather disappointed. “Yes, dear, allin good time, In the meantime I will tell you one thing.” * What is that ?” ‘That you are amongst friends.” With this assurance Rose was, for the present, obliged to remain satisfied. But it was impossible to rest so long as she remained in doubt. Therefore, when she saw the opportunity, she again endeavoured to draw her companioninto conversation. ‘¢ Would you kindly answer me one question ?”’ she asked. “That alldepends, my love, what the question is.”’ ‘‘ When I fainted away I was in an old Jew’s house.” ‘‘ Hush, my dear, so you are now.”’ Rose’s heart sank within her. And yet when she thought the matter over she could not believe it possible that this could be the den of assassins into which she had fallen when endeayour- ing to dispose of her locket. ‘* But—but,”’ she stammered, ‘‘ where is Miriam ?”’ ‘* Miriam,” replied the woman, ‘‘ is upstairs, but you shall see her presently.” Rose shut her eyes with a shudder, Meanwhile the old woman busied herself about the — room, noiselessly arranging the furniture. As Rose looked at her stealthily from time to time she could not help thinking that she must haye been mistaken in her identity. How was it to be accounted for ? The face of the old hag whom she had seen so brutally ill-treating the lovely young Jewess was certainly distorted by passion, but not so as to be thus unrecognisable. Really it seemed impossible to suppose that she could be so changed, and yet there could be no doubt about the fact that she did slightly resemble her, Could she be her sister ? But this was not the only question which puzzled our heroine. What did the woman mean when she spoke of Miriam ? Was not the young Jewess dead ? Had not Rose with her own eyes seen her foully and ernelly butchered ? Ehoo (C@ in