Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

’ SS LL A EA TT A A A LL TT LS , 130 SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: fumes of the liquor soon steeled his senses against any such thoughts or feelings. Meantime, Lizzie sought the apartment where Jessie reclined, sad, and broken-hearted, and approaching the couch, laid her hand upon her mistress’s arm, ere the latter was aware of her presence. Jessie looked up through her teas into the vale face of her maid and confidant. ‘‘ Weeping again, my poor mistress,” said the eirl, in a sad ‘tone, her lips tr embling as she spoke, and the tears starting to her own eyes. ‘““ Yes, Lizzie, tis the only relief I can obtain to my sorrow,and apoor reliefitis. Yet, but for the fountain of the eyes, my over-filled heart would break. Alas! I feel that it would be better were il to do so, for then—then’—— | “Then what, madam ?” asked the maid. - ‘“This soul would be at peace—the srave would drown all my sorrows.” “Do not talk like this, it makes me sad,” said the girl. ‘‘ Do not speak of dying.” “ For what have I to live?” asked her mistress, sadly. “ Y ourself.”’ * | Myself ” “You are too young to die. older than I aim.’ ‘¢ In years, Bera not; butin sorrow and ”— She paused, Her face flushed. Her head fell upon Ker bosom. A deep, deep sigh escaped her, and she clasped her hand.upon her heart. “And what, madam ?” asked the girl. Sin,” was the deep reply. “ Sin ?” echoed Lizzie. “Ay, girl. I have been sinful—very sinful,” said Jessie, “and now my sins are finding me out,” | ‘Of what sin can you have been guilty that youshould speak thus ?”’ said Lizzie. ‘‘ You blame yourself too much, and others less than they deserve.” ‘* Indeed, no.” ‘“* But you do.” “Can there be any sin greater than disobe- dience?” said Jessie, looking up in the maid’s face. “To whom ?” “Those who gave you being.”’ “ Your parents ?” hy? “We are all guilty of such in a less or greater degree,” was the-reply. “Mine has been great, indeed, to — poor grey: -haired, kind-hearted parents. Oh, Lizzie ! had I but listened to their ‘counsels—had I but heeded their prayers, | had been happy now— happy now.’ “ Do not take on so, madam ; others have been more guilty than your self—much’ more guilty | ‘ they intend to be.” “Whom do you mean ?” The girl hung her head, — She did not like to reply, much as she wished to do so. The question was repeated. ‘* Pardon me, madam, but I must speak —your husband ”—— You are not THE TERROR OF LONDON. a } rf At . “ What of him?” | “Oh! madam ; I know I have done wrong to. play the eavesdropper, but it was more by accl- dent than design I have done so.’ GO LOUL said J egsie, mi pationely dashing — the tears away from her long lashes, and inate «p on the couch. ‘‘- You see, madam, I had business in the draw- ing-room when master came in, and not wishing — him to see me there, I slipped into the large closet, and heard and saw enough to chill my blood.” ° “Tell me all, Lizzie—tell me alle (3 _ cried the woman, impatiently. ie, ‘‘T shall break your heart.” iy “Psha! “is too hard, or it had anion ere this. I can bear anything if T can bear his cruelty and contempt, for nothing ean be worse than that.” f Alas! madam, you have yet to learn the worst. : “ Out with it, then, girl.” x “Tt will pain you, yet I should be criminal were I to keep secret what I have heard this night. It will lacerate your heart, but I shall only be doing my duty by speaking.” “Keep me no longer in suspense, Jessie. The girl gazed a moment upon the pale suffer- ing face before her and hesitated. She almost wished she had not aroused fre curiosity of her mistress. She feared lest the communication she wis to make might be too much for Jessie to bear. But then she thought how wicked it cate | of her to know what she had learned and tell her mistress, and she made the poor wife acquainted with all she had heard and aegn while concealed in the closet. Without a word of comment Jessie heard | to the end. Not a sigh escaped her, but with her tear- bedewed face turned to the carpet, she dranl in every word the girl uttered. Lae 4 Lizzie felt alarmed at her silence ; she dreaded — lest reason should totter, and madness seize eat oe her brain. She had expected to hear Jessie denounce her cruel husband in no measured terms, and when | not a sound or motion escaped her, she became: { alarmed for her safety. Bi ‘And you heard this?” said Jessie, at length | | looking up. a a Every word that I have spoken.” = | 5 “And that the day after to-morrow a false | marriage is to be contracted, James acting as minister ?” “Such was the result of their conference,” said Lizzie. “But, madam,” she added, after a pause, “ Mr. Clavering may ‘never intend to be guilty of such a wicked thing.” ‘* Lizzie,” said her mistress, in a cooler tone, ‘Richard Claveri ing is my husband, but heisa villain. He has resolved to drive me from him or break my heart. . There is nothing he 80. much desires as my death. A’ short time since and I could pray for an end to this* pe eal of existence, but now I will strive to live to he him. Villain, villain! And he <i to ‘ote another victim by a mock marriage. to his promises and found myself foceivestl ‘tn | | - 73 exclaimed J con | GDOOKS,.C