Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

116 SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: flung violently back against the wall of the passage. The weapon fell from her hand. She was powerless to retain it in her grasp. She could only glare upon the chamber door, and listen to the hurried tramp of heavy feet upon the stairs. What could it mean ? She had no time to think, for the next instant a couple of officers bounded into the room, nearly overturning her as they did so. One clutched at ner arm, exclaiming— “Woman, where is your husband ?— Where” His grasp relaxed, and he staggered back, pointing to the stiffened body which, as he spoke, met his gaze. “Good heavens!” cried the other, “he is dead!” “Ay,” said Jane, ‘f dead—dead !”’ And she dropped into the chair as she spoke, and her head fell upon her hands. The officers stood gazing from one to the other for some moments, and then the one who had before spoken to Jane laid his hand upon her shoulder, and said in a choked voice— s Woman, what is this? What does this mean }”’ The other officer knelt down beside the body of the suicide, and aiaeds his hand on the|_ wretched man’s heart. “Cold and dead, ’ he said, in a hollow, yet sub- dued voice. “ Poor fellow, "he has escaped us.’ “Yes, we are too late,” said his comrade ; “he has cheated justice.” “Who are you?’ Why are you here?) What do you seek?” cried Jane, scarcely knowing what she said. “We came hither to seek this man, your husband, is he not ? who broke from gaol a few hours since. Came to take him back, “but ” “ But,” said Jane, “ he has foiled you—foiled that villain’s malice, escaped the sheers of the world, the felon’s doom, by self-murder. But curses on you both, why did you not delay another moment, then I—I had joined him.” She stooped to pick up the razor, but the man clutched her shoulder and held her back. Woman, what would you do?” he cried, forcing her down into the chair. “Take the life that is wretched, worthless— lay with him in the cold and silent grave !”’ “Poor thing!” said the other, commiseratingly, *‘ poor thing! Take her down stairs. Take her from this fearful sight. Medical aid is useless here. You look to her, and I will go for further orders ; but take her from this room. She must not be suffered to touch anything, nor left alone in her present state of mind. Carry her down stairs. Lift her gently, poor thing !—poor woman !’ The other strove to obey his companion’s desires, but Jane struggled so wildly that the man could not raise her in his arms to bear her from the room. “Tet me go,” she cried, ‘do not touch me; I will follow him. What have I to live for now he is dead ? Let me go—oh, let me go!” The officers tried to soothe her. Jane would not be comforted.} THE TERROR OF LONDON. 6 i “Oh, let me die—let me die,’’ she cried, ‘Btrug=] ‘ oling to fling herself upon the floor. t “Your grief is but natural,’’ said one ; “but be advised—leave this room and this horrible _ sight, and you will be more calm.” ' “Calm!” cried Jane, “‘oh! yes, lam calm— calm now. Believe me, | 'T will be calm—I will be if calm.” Hy ‘““Come, let me hand you down.” | “No, no! I will not leave him—never, never ! They tore him from me, but they shall not part | usagain! You shall not; I will find himin ~ the grave !—oh, God! oh, God ! hi The efforts she made to release herself from ii the hold of the officer became weaker, and then ~ her head sank upon his shoulder, and her eyes closed in insensibility. ‘ Heaven was merciful to her. a For a time it shut out from her soul the fate | of her beloved husband and her own poignant — ae sufferings. qe “Poor thing, she has fainted,” said one. © | “A good thing, too, both for herself and us,” | replied his companion. | ‘“What do you think of this affair 7” “Suicide,” was the reply. “Not murder ?” i ‘““No. The fellow cut his own throat I should | say. Poordevil!” | Th “Yes, I don’t think she’s done it for him.” | “Not she ; it’s a safe case of suicide. I expect | he made sure of being taken again, and so re- | ’! solved to cheat justice of her due. He’s a fool, though ;/it would have been time enough after ty he was committed. He should have stood his AY trial first. | re The other shrugged his shoulder. | : _ “Beara hand here,” he cried, “and help me — to get the woman down. She's precious heavy, I can tell you.’ The officer thus addressed stooped and raised the lower limbs of Jane tenderly, and his com- panion holding her beneath the arms, they bore | her silently down the stairs to the little ste b} and placed her on the sofa. — = Better try and bring her to, hadn’t wwe,’ said one. | “No, better let her keep as she 1s, aslongas she will,” replied his companion. “ Poor thing! — she'll wake up to her misery too soon, come to — when she will.” Assuring themselves that she was not giving | any immediate signs of recovery, the two men ~ left her side, and proceeded to the bed-room. “The fellar’s dead enough,’’said one ; “butwe | will call in medical aid, though all the doctors — in the world couldn’t bring back the life that’s © gone. What a gash! He’d made up his mind | to do it effectually when he drew that blade | across his throat. His hand didn’t shake then, | I'll wager.” ‘Where was his wife ?’’ said the other. “Out, I should think, seeing that she’s got her bonnet and shawl on.’ ‘* A pretty sight to come home to.” His companion shuddered. “Yes,” he said ; ‘‘ but comeon. I can't bear to look at him. I’m not over squeamish, but I shall see that face fora long time to come. Ugh! come on, don’t let's stay here any longer; you "| @, en, _ ae % os i . | I00 s-€om GOMIIE mn