Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 42: what you’re looking at

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o6 and make yeu respected where poverty only brings you contemp!!” - ‘‘ Speak no more, but leave me!” “ T have followed you too long—I cannot lose you now.” ‘Your words are poison to my ears and daggers to my heart! If you have one spark of manly feeling, you will let me proceed alone,” she said, bursting into tears. “Spurn me not from you! By heaven! Ipity as well as love you!” he cried. ** Love! that is impossible.” *¢ Why impossible ?” . “‘ Because love is a pure and holy passion was the reply. “Then do I love you.” | “Would you lead. me to the altar?” “* Of love ?—-yes,” : © Would you make me your wife?” *-T would make yzt. mine—wholly mine,” he replied, quickly. ‘* But would you make me a wife, as custom and the law only recognise the term ?” “ T would make you that which, if not in th sight of man, at least in the sight of God would be a wife.” “ And yet you profess to love me!” cried the girl. . “ Oh, shame—shame upon you! I am poor and wretched, but the position you offer me would but embitter my miseries—plunge me.to despair—bow: the, gray hairs of her who fave me being with shame and. sorrow to the grave.’ : ; * «6 Pshaw ! at most ’twould be but a momentary - He seized her hand, and held it firmly. He bent his head down and looked into her flushed face. He saw the tears trembling on her eyelids— the nervous twitching of the muscles of her mouth. From these he augured well for his own base course. _ He bent his head still lower. His lips almost touched her ear, “Girl,” he said, in a whisper, “ be mine, and I will heap gold at your feet, with which you ecan- make. a bright existence for her who now waits for the paltry pence you have earned to buy her bread. Away with all prudish thoughts. You shall be my wife in all but name. Hesitate no longer, whisper but your consent, and be mine.’ | t 2 | . " Had an adder stung her, she could ‘not have started back. with greater terror. | u She tore her hand from his grasp with'a violent jerk. | She stood gazing on him: with frowning brow and compresses lips. : Proudly erect she stood. Defiantly contemptuous was her mien. Then her lips parted, and one word alone issued from between them. It came in a husky, half-hissing whisper, and that word was, “ Scoundrel!” Then she turned and fled, The libertine stood for several moments gazing after her pretty figure, and then he. started off in pursuit, . 9) I “~ The streets were comparatively daserted, and | changed his position and struck out -_~ os On at — eee ee —_ — SPRING-HEEL’D JACK : THE TERROR OF LONDON. the bye-ways into which they had penetrated contained no one out of doors. a oe After about a hurried run of two minutes, the © rufian caught up to the terrified and disgusted ballet girl as she was about to turn the corner of a short, narrow street, the houses of which spoke only too plainly the poverty of its inhabitants, She felt his hand upon her shoulder, and © uttered a short, sharp cry. ( “ Hark you, girl,” he said,as he brought herto | a dead. stop; ‘‘ I have condescended to sue for | your favours, but now you shall sue to me for ~ mercy! I have marked you out for a victim, | and J will humble your proud spirit to the dust. — You cannot escape me! -Nay, ‘tis useless to | struggle!” 7“ vine | “ Help! help!” cried the poor girl, struggling — to release herself from the ruffian’s grasp. ‘ You struggle in vain,” he said, forcing her — close to him, and endevouring to imprint akiss | on her lips. ‘‘I will make you mine, despite | your cries! and struggles. You have none to | help yow here; and now I command, where | before I pleadéd so ‘abjectly.” | y. He drew her tohis bosom—he pressed his lips | to her cheeks and forehead, while the girl cried | aloud for help: S50 BER ONY | Suddenly his hat was dashed violently from | his head, and as he released his hold of the girl, | and staggered back, a Strong ‘arm encircled the waist of the poor, affrighted ballet girl, and a blow, aimed with terrific force at the face of the ruffian, knocked him over asif he had been shot. ‘Ashe fell from its force, striking his head against a post at the corner of the street, the sir] looked up into the face of her protector, and started back witha cry, as she saw the hideous mask of Spring-heeled Jack | | CHAPTER XIV. IN THE DARK WATERS—THE BARGEMAN’S TERROR —THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE—SAVED AT LAST. Down! down! with the folds of his large cloak carried back from his’ shoulders by the wind caused in his d2scent from the bridge. Down, like’ an ‘arrow, into the bosom of the | black, though now smooth waters of the Thames, — went Spring-heeled Jack after the wretched girl — whom grief had led to make an attempt upon her life. : Pe ' With aloud plash the waters closed over his — form, burying him in darkness for a few seconas, during which time he experienced a paint sensation of suffocation, the terrific height from which he’ had jumped depriving him almost of his breath ere he reached the surface of the — river, , ; ar Then he felt himself lifted up, and the next | instant he perceived above him a black mass, | dotted here and there with a faint glimmering light, which momentarily grew brighter as his” eyes became accustomed to the gloom. . It was the bridge and the lamps thereon which - had first met his vision as he rose out of the — murky depths of the stream, consequently he — had turned, or been forced, completely round — either in his descent or ascent, and he instantly _ vigorously, f books7com “ce Th ay *~ i — ae i, rae ee oS ee eee ee SF = . —— = x e , . | | | ‘ | | . | : i comic a