Vashti's Fate — page 295: what you’re looking at

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

iiad > is o. - - . wd prs. 4 Na A: Seay t $2025 A ~ oa M : h 2 . _ ° . wa - 290 DASCOMB—VASHTI. ‘“There is no one here, Vashti,’’ Nora said. ‘He has hid. Iam certain he has.” There was a bustle, and the sound of voices in the great hall. Philip and Hubert hurried out, and the rest followed, except Vashti and Nora. It was Dascomb struggling in the grasp of two officers of justice, who had stealthily followed him to Everleigh, and nabbed him just as he was again escaping therefrom. They assured the poor wretch, in language more plain than polite, that he was sure to hang, and explained to Philip and the gaping servants, that this fellow, this Percy Dascomb, had murdered his wife ! With a sudden and violent effort, the man loosed him- self, and darted through the throng. The officers were quick after him, however, and overtook him in the sitting-room. He had thrown himself at Vashti’s feet, and as the offices touched him again, cried with the fiercest appealing : ‘‘Give me one instant to speak with this lady, and I will go -with you peaceably. Forgive—forgive!” he frantically implored as without heeding his entreaty, they were seizing Involuntarily they paused a moment. He turned his wild, agonized face on Nora, crying, madly : ‘‘Intercede for me. Tell her that, wicked as I have been, I loved her. Beg her to forgive me the wrong I was going to do her, by her hopes of Heaven, to stretch forth her innocent hands, and say, ‘I forgive you.’ Tell her my hands are red with blood for love of her! Curse you, villains! wait, wait. Oh! Vashti, I am going to judgment with a rope around my neck, and so sure as you. do not forgive me, I will bear witness against you! ‘There, curses on you, villains! she was going to speak to me.” _ ¥ Fi °° : a » Vy 7 ¥ ,% * : Wag re F ao det ii P ' “4. —— . “/ ‘. > ve J J ney) PG ; ae p= 5 SS he 5 (@] eleye >. Mm — ’ - | < : > gy - * se =\ oe a P - ae lt ’ if oe es *) ay . a? ar 2 ’ , : or - i Pm. * 3! y '