Vashti's Fate — page 210: what you’re looking at

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

TRIBULATION, 205, riding-whip over Dascomb’s head, who recoiled involun- tarily. ‘‘Hands off, my friends!” He lashed the. horse - as he spoke ; the animal reared frantically, and, witha leap that nearly threw them out, dashed through the crowd and away down the dim street, and, like an arrow from a bow, — was immediately lost to view. Be en Dascomb was like a madman. Something after the manner of that famous Richard of whom we have all heard, he issued frantic appeals for ‘‘A horse! a horse !” and, having obtained one after some-moments of delay, off he went, the crowd cheering and the boys hooting after him. | Professor Thorpe stopped a few miles out of town to get a fresh horse. He had made the exchange, and was per- suading Vashti to drink a glass of water and have some re- freshments, when Dascomb came foaming up, and, throw- ing himself from his horse, made some demonstrations of renewing the contest—taking care; however, to keep a safe distance from the horsewhip, which confronted him threateningly. “‘T leave the matter entirely to the lady,” said the pro- fessor. ‘‘It is her choice to go with me, and moreover, she is not your wife, nor ever likely to be, if you do not keep a more civil tongue in your head. Ask her yourself if she will go or stay. Oh, come as close as you like; I sha’n't strike you without fair warning.” He smiled grimly, and Dascomb came up once more to Vashti, extending his hands, and saying: «Stay with me, dearest, till morning, and I will myself take you back to Everleigh.” His tender words seemed to strike no answering chord in her heart. She looked at him coldly, and, turning to Professor Thorpe, said, in her clear, passionless tones: (ele) - Comicboo cS