Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 312: what you’re looking at

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

——_——— ee el ol4 ee eee ee ee en ee ne a Ow ew. ees ia es Te nN ee err SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON. — eee length, “it is cruel of you to play thus with my “Ohi, donot ; he is my friend,” cried Mildred, feelings. You have led me to think you loved | extending her hand to Jack. * me, and now that I would make you mine, you will not agree to become my wife. It is true 1) ium poor, but I will be kind and true to you.” “ T know you would, John,” said the girl, in’ a voice that caused Jack to start; “ but Iwill never marry.” — re he ‘¢ Never !” “Ay! Do not ask me why. I have my reasons. I cannot bear the thought of marry- ing, I will own I love you, but can never become your wife.” “Then you love another ?”’ “ Indeed, no!” “Why this strange resolve, then ?” “Do not ask me,’’ ** But I will know.”’ ‘‘No you will not, and if you love me, you will not seek to know. I have’my reasons, John. Do not question them.” ‘Mildred Hendon, I must—TI will,” cried the youth, pausing in his slow walk, “ John, I have said I will not give them,’ was the firm reply. “Then, we must part for ever,” said the young man. “Do not leave me in anger, John,” pleaded the girl. ‘ You would not, did you know my heart.” “Tt am not angered. I shall leave you in sorrow. I had hoped to make you my wife, but find I have been but following a shadow that glides from my touch when I extend my hand to grasp it. Not in anger will I leave you, Milly, but in sorrow.”’ Jack at this moment passed them, and, as he did so, he took the pinfrom the lappel of his coaf. They neither of them observed him, and after looking in the girl’s face as -she kept her eyes fixed on the ground, he turned and passed them again as they stood close together, their hands locked in each other’s, and their eyes both fixed on the ground. Ashe did so, he pinned the skirt of the girl's dress to the coat of the youth, and waited for her to speak again, ‘* He shan’t run away from her,’’ he muttered. “IT know her reason, and so shall’he. [ like the look of him, and if I can prevail upon the girl to forego her resolve, I will do so.”’ ‘“‘ John,” she said, at length, ‘it is hard for me to drive you from my side ; but we never can be united,” ‘Farewell, then, Milly. May we never meet again,’ said the young man, shaking the trem- bling hand, and turning quickly. He took but one step ere he discovered, by the pull upon his coat and Milly’s dress, that they were secured together ; and while both looked at their extended skirts in some confusion, Jack said— ‘““Why, my friend, you are already united, you see!” The young man darted a fierce look at Jack, and Milly, turning, uttered a little scream. “ Tlow dare you, sir!” cried the youth. ‘‘ 1 was resolved that you should not lose the prize you seek ; so don’t be angry, young man,” “This insolence”’ Sr mmm ee ne a — — - ee ee ee ee ee ee The young man looked as if he would slay our hero on the spot. He saw, or rather fancied he saw, the true reason of Mildred’s refusal to become his wife. She loved another, and that other the man who had dared to pin them together in the public streets; and had it not been for the presence of the girl he so fondly loved, he would have struck Jack to the earth. Our hero read what was transpiring in the young man’s mind; so, turning to Mildred, he said— “Miss Hendon, I am happy to see you here, recovered from your accident ; and shall be more happy still, if you will itroduce me to your intended husband. Nay, do not blush. You owe me a favour, I think.” | Indeed—indeed, I do, my noble benefactor and kindest of friends! ” said Mildred. ‘Then forego your cruel intention, and be happy with this young man, who, I am sure— for I read a man’s nature in his face—will be to you a kind and indulgent husband, who will take you from that profession to which few, indeed, cling from love, and where fewer still are kindly looked upon by the unfeeling world. I suess the reason which has prompted you to refuse him your hand; but let me ask itasa mark of respect—geratitude, if you will, to me— to gainsay the words you have uttered.” Mildred looked blushinely to the ground, “You love him?” said Jack. “Yes, I will not deny it,” was the soft re- sponse ; but ”’—— } | “*But—but what? You area silly girl,” said Jack, “and if you do not like to say yes to his pleading, I will say yes for you.” ‘ No—no!” , ‘*'Then, speak the word yourself. I know it will make you happy as well as him ; and I am sure it will be a source of great pleasure to me to know that you are comfortably settled—no longer compelled to make the theatre a means of obtaining bread for yourself and aged mother. Now come, Miss Hendon, it is an old. friend who joins his appeal to that of this young man, and I am sure you will not turn a deaf ear to our peateee “My good, kind friend,” said Mildred, raising her eyes to those of our hero’s, “I can deny you nothing.” | ‘‘ Not even this little hand,” said Jack, takin the taper fingers of Mildred in his own an holding them tightly. ‘‘ Not even this little pen to bestow upon our surprised friend 1ere,’’ 3 -“ Doas you will,” said Mildred. “If you wish it, I will consent.”’ ) ist : ‘“T do wish it, if you love him ; but not else,” said Jack, quickly. “1 do love him!” ; ‘Then [must respect him. There, my friend, that little pin which almost brought your hand on my head, has got you this hand, and the heart with it. And now, Mildred, tell me his name.” “John Harkwright.” “Then, Mr. John Harkwright, Iam happy to —..____ E€omicbhooks.com