Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

134 this depression of the spirits.” | ‘¢ It may beso.” “Depend upon it, it is.”’ ‘‘Tt is near ten, is it not?” said Jessie, after a pause, and looking up at the beautiful timepiece as she spoke. “ Past ten.” ““T never observed that piece tick so loud betore, have you, Lizzie?” | t by ‘Yes, madam. I hear nothing unusual in its ticking,” was the reply. ‘it may be my fancy.” * Tt is, madam.”’ “ Hark, Lizzie.” “ At what?” | 3 “ The, clock. It seems to me as if it8 pen- dulum said at each stroke, ‘for ever and ever,’ ” cried Jessie. ) The girl looked. at her mistress in alarm and surprise. | She began to think that her mind wandered— that the cruelty of her husbanc! was driving her mad, ; “You frighten me,” she said. “Oh! do not talk like that.”’ | “I know it is very foolish, Lizzie, very foolish indeed ; but I cannot, though I strive to do so, make that timepiece say anything but the words I have uttered.” ) ‘* Shall I stop it?” ‘“ No; wherefore?” “IT thought if it annoyed you” —-—~— “No, no; do not touch it. I know it is only fancy—foolish fancy, my good girl. But I am filled with fancies this morning. Do you know, Lizzie, I even fancy I shall not live throughout the day?” The girl recoiled back a pace. Her pale face became even more white if pos- sible than before. ‘ Why—why shouid you think this?” she asked, in a tremulous whisper, “I canpot tell; Lam powerless to explain,” was the reply. | Then fixing her eyes upon the face of the maid, she said, in a low but impressive tone— “Lizzie, I have told you where Clavering brought me from when he brought me hither.” ‘* Yes—your father’s home.” ‘* But the place where that happy dwelling is. situated ? ” “ Yes, madam.’’ | “Do you think you could) find it?” asked Jessie. ‘* Easily. J have been in that part of the country.” Lhere was a few moments pause, during which time Jessie pressed her hands to her bosom, and a aa quivered like a dewdrop on her long, dark lash. Lizzie,’ she said, at length, taking the girl’s hand and pressing it in her own, “ will you pro- mise me to go thither and tell those ever loved and never-to-be-forgotten parents that my last thoughts were for them—my last prayer invoke ing heaven's blessings on their heads,”’ “My dear madam’”—— ‘Nay, interrupt me not, my good girl. Iam sure that I shall never see them again—never SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON. these few days past, and a want of rest, cause ) near at hand. Hark! there is my husband and a i f ’ - » , 3 ; ‘ more hear their loved tones, receive their warm - kiss of affection. ‘ [have ill-repaid all their kind- A ness to me, and would not, ‘could not, ask their” © fotgiveness, did I think that-I should live. Start «| not; Lizzie ; that Strange inward voice for which | none can account, whispers to me that my time | has come,’’ | “Se Bain > i “For heaven’s sake, madam, do not speak thus,” eried Lizzie. ew eo ‘““ And wherefore tot? I havé no wish to live | since life isto me a burden. Rather, then, let me WW welcome death, for it will still and rest the | aching heart, and stifle the upbraidings Of a | guilty ¢onsciencé: TIT tell you, Lizzie, "tis useless | — _ < for me to attempt to deceive myself. The hour Ihe has ¢ome—the edict has goné forth. I must — | die!” wears, | The girl clung to her mistress in terror. Jessie threw her arm around Lizzie’s néck, and kissed her cheek. - Ne “My only friend,” she said, “to you I ¢éon- fide my last request. Promise me you will fulfil The girl sobbed hysterically. — Roartsies _ “Hush, hush,” said Jessie, “or he will discover — our presence in the house, and the victim wi fall. We ‘inst save her—I must save her, | _ though in so doing, I destroy myself.” = = | “What is it—whom is it you fear?” asked the |” girl. | a .s } ‘““ Nothing—no one,” was the reply. “Ihave | no fear, I only fortell my death, which I know is | — : , Wa | 9, James in conversation—another voice. They | come this way. They come to prepare the pile | , on which this victim is to be sacrificed. Letusinto | the closet, Lizzie, to watch, and listen, and wait r)) till the moment comes when, like a thunderbolt, Th I can. fall upon him and denounce the guilty” si wretch to her, whom he would slay as he has | me in peace and honour. Come, Lizzie—come. — Oh! how I long for the moment when he shall’ stand exposed, confused before me! Then will be the hour of my triumph and my revenge—then ~ shall the woman he has despised laugh at his | shame and confusion.”’ rab!) Together they entered the closet and shut the door so closé as only to leave a small chink fl through which they could watch and see all that {t was going on. <a ae The voices below ceased for a time, and then : t were heard again; but this time the secreted — by females detected other tones than these of men, | — and Jessie clutched at the arm of her maid,as | the silvery voice of Mildred Hendon broke upon — her ears. | thee ic ~ CHAPTER XLVII. THE CEREMONY INTERRUPTED—THE EXPOSURE— THE MURDER AND ESCAPE... » Ft ie + ad) ‘ f q ; 4q é « | ti AxBour a quarter of an hour of agony ‘and Sus: Le pense followed, during which time the two | women strained every nerve to éatch the shig test’ | sound that might indicate their coming. ~~" | The subdued voice of the ballét-girl, mingled | with the louder tones of the libertine, fell upon - ie the heart of the poor wife With a weight | that was almost crushing. ee nd 1a | apr Ke exeye) <riefelaai