Agnes: A Tale of the Streets — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

418: AGNES; OR, BEAUTY AND PLEASURE. ing the very first thing he will confess everything I have obtained rank and position :—through me to his attorney, and the police will be upon our you look for the means of a handsome and com- track! Wretched girl, it is you who have brought fortable living. Besidese——But no matter! To about all this !’"—and Hector, laying his hand speak of the love which characterised the early upon his sister’s beautiful white shoulder, shook period of our acquaintance were now ridiculous !’”’ her violently, and with such force that his fingers “And you will go with me, Cicely?” exclaimed left marks upon the sensitive flesh. Hector, rejoiced at the willingness of his wife to “Oh, brother! pardon, pardon!” oried the | share his exile. ‘“Romember! you shall be your miserable young woman, sinking upon her knees own mistress jn all things !” and extending her joined hands towards him. “IT cannot accompany you, Hector—but I will * Pardon P” he echoed: “ pardon P” he repeated j follow you,” interrupted Cicely, ‘In threo or with ecornful bitterness ; and he actually spurned | four days-——” his wretched sister away from him! “¥or youI; “Enough! I cannot ask you todo more. Ah! must fly the country, never to return !—-licentious ' where is Josephine? Go to her, Cicely !—tell her wanton that you are! Ob, I could crush—I that time presses—she must get ready to accom- could stamp upon you !” pany me—we must depart stealthily and at onco! “Good God! what is the matter P”--and Cicely | A small carpet-bag with a few necessaries—and ow burst into the room. that is all! Go and fetch Josephine !” ~Ribatter indeed !” exclaimed Iardress, begin- Cicely hastened from the parlour, and ascended ning to patta,and fro in desperate excitement. to her sister-in-law’s chamber. But Josephine ‘Iam frenzied! I am crazed! I am well-nigh was not there: Cicely searched for her in threo or driven to suicide !” four other rooms—and still she was not to be “ Tlector, speak ! tell me what has happened!” found. Then, carrying a taper in her hand, sho exd Cicoly was terribly frightened. | repaired to her own boudoir; and @ scream burst Josephine Ilardress availed herself of this junc- | from her lips. Upon the carpet lay Josophine— ture to hurry forth from the apartment. | motionless—dead ! “Tt is time that you should know everything, | The truth was quickly ascertained. The un- Cicely !—for I muat ask you to come abroad with | happy young lady had swallowed the contents of me—you hold the purse—I myself have littlh— | the phial of laddanum, for which she had no doubt the allowance my father makes me is, a8 you| searched; and a subsequent investigation showed know, poor and niggard———” ' Cicely that in the impetuous haste with which sho “ Hector, do not talk upon money matters!” | had fiang the bottles into her drawer and then interjected Cicely: “ we have neyor yet quarrelied | turned the key in the lock, she had not closed that upon that score! Why should you go abroad ? | drawer; but the bolt of the lock had missed its Has anything fresh transpired in reference to the | hold and had Jeft tbe drawer easy to be opened. duel? What about Andrew Hailes? why was, Noone heard that scream from Cicely’s lips. Josephine at your feet P why were you upbraiding | All her presence of mind returned. She paused her ?” ‘and listened. No sound reached her ear—no foot- “ Cicely, you must soon know the truth—aend | step was approaching. She comprehended all the you may as well have it from my lips as from : gravity of her own position in a moment. A largt those of another. Indced, better, better! ‘Learn, | fire was burning in the grate: she took from the then, that on the occasion of the fatal duel Thev- | drawer the little bottles bearing the label of dore Cliffurd fell not by my hand! A shot was! “ Laudanum”—and she flung them amidet the fired in vengeance—it was a righteous vengeance! | candescent coals. She emptied half the contents —but a tribunal of justice would proclaim it’ of the scuttle over them; and then rushing from treacherous— perfidious—murderous ! It was Juse- | the boudvir, sho raised the alarm. MHoctor was phine who fired that shot.” | the first upon the spot; but beture he could ex- “ Ah!—and a hght seemed to break in upon ; change a single syllable with his wife, the domec- the brain of Cicely, and she now comprehended tics were flocking thither. The tale was told by why Jusephine’s manner had grown so changed im- : Cicely: Miss Ilardress had taken something— she mediately after that ducl and before she could pos- | knew not what—it was evidently poison—it waa sibly have known that she was in a way to be-! probably laudanum, for there was an odour there- come a mother on account of her connexion with of in the boudoir. Andrew Hailes. All was horror and cenfusion. A surgeon was “ Yoe—it is as I tell you, Cicely! Hailes hae! sent for; a message was likewise despatched to discovered it all !—our plan for marrying him to Lord and Lady Mendlesbam. The medical man Josephine has expluded—and to-morrow morning | arrived first; and he pronounced that life was ex- everything will be revealed to the police! 1 must; tinct. Two or three drops remaining in the phial, fly! Yes—within the hour thatis passing! And; told him what the poison was; and thus thore Josephine must go with me! I cannot leave ber ' was no need to purauc the investigation. Lord behind, even though I now hate her as the cause of ‘and Lady Mendlesham came, to find their daughter my own utter downfall! But you—what will vou | dead—to weep over her remains—and to listen tc do? Remember, Cicely, before you answer me—re- ; whatsoever tale Cicely might have to tell in refer- member.that I never breathed a syllable of reproach ence to the catastrophe; for in the meanwhile on account of the horrible stigma that has fallen Hector had fled from the villa, and was speeding upon one with whom you ure nearly connected ; to the Dover railway to take the night-train that I mean Mr. Timperley !” ‘be might get out of the country as soon as pos- “T know it, Heector—I know it. Your fortunes | sible. eud mine are bound up together. Through you COmicboocks C©