Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 258: what you’re looking at

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

260 The others started back in surprise and alarm, while Timothy, with one hand resting upon the table, stood as if paralyzed. , ‘“Who are you ?” he gasped, at length. ‘“Your servant, Spring-heeled Jack ; and in the next room are the officers who have come to bear you and your companions to jail. Old centlemen, it is fortunate for you we arrived so soon, or these cheats and robbers had wrested from you the wealth you have toiled so hard to amass. What ho! there. Officers, do your duty.” CHAPTER LXXXIX. THE ROOM OF DEATH—THE PROFFERED ASSISTANCE AND THE GRATEFUL HEART. StowLty the sunbeam which penetrated the dirty panes of glass glided up the wall against which the wretched bed of the guilty woman was placed, and played upon the white, rigid face and skeleton arm, which was all that re- mained uncovered by the patchwork quilt, while a silence, broken only by the breathing of Jack and the consumptive-looking youth, as they gazed down upon the inanimate mass of clay, alone broke the silence of the room. For some moments both continued to gaze upon the form which lay so still and motionless —a form that never more would feel the pleasures or woes of this world—a form which, now the spirit had fled its earthly casket, would fast return to that dust from which it had sprung. ‘““Dead—dead!”’ sobbed Richard, at length, falling on his knees beside the mean and wretched couch, and slowly drawing the quilt over the pale features. ‘Ay, dead!” said Jack, in a solemn tone. ‘She has gone where her sins will meet their just reward—gone before that Judge whom elo- quence cannot turn, gold cannot corrupt—gone _ to that judgment-seat where justice is adminis- tered to all alike, and meeted out to the prince as to the peasant—the worldly rich as to the poor. May she find mercy there, and the re- pentant’s sins be forgiven.” “ Amen!” exclaimed the young man. ‘“ For she was good to me—oh,so kind. No mother could be kinder.” The young man rose to his feet, and, dashing away the tear which shamed not his eye nor degraded his manhood, said— “But how, sir, came you here? Did you know her ? ” And he pointed to the bed. “No, At least, 1 have met her once, and interposed between her anda ruffian who had her turned from his house,”’ “ “Sir Richard Clavering ? ”’ “No; but he who assumed that title. I knew him well, and once esteemed him as a frieud. But no matter now. He has gone; and be it not my tongue to utter bitter words against ‘the dead. Still, I will explain my strange appearance here at such a moment. Resolved to compel the waggoner to carry you to the metropolis, 1 kept close to the vehicle without being seen, and when you vacated it in SPRING-HEEL’D JACK : THE TERROR OF LONDON. the broad daylight, I was so struck with the resemblance you bore to one for whom [I enter- tain -the greatest respect, that I resolved to follow and learn more respecting you. Not wishing to appear dogging your footsteps, I followed at some little distance, but suddenly lost sight of you as you entered this house. On passing the open door below, I thought I caught sight of you on the stairs. But ere I could reach your side you had entered this wretched apartment. I was about to make my presence known by a tap on the door, when her voice met my ears. And I know not what could have-induced me to pause and listen, unless it be that strange feeling which some- times comes over us and prompts us to do that for which we can find no possible reason. Well, I stood outst! on the landing and listened, and whe i iieard the name of the libertine, Richard Clavering, I entered, unannounced—and you know the rest.”’ ‘“* And he is dead ? ”’ | | “Yes. His evil passions goaded him on from crime to crime, till murder stained his soul, and he died in Newgate.” bay “ And tillnow 1 had no knowledge that his wealth and title were mine,” said the youth, musingly. ‘*Fain would I not know it now. Better had she died with the secret unrevealed.” “Wherefore ?”’ “Because what hope can I have of ever making good my claim—of ever being acknow- ledged as the legitimate son of Sir Giles?” “You forget the proofs.” Oh, in the box? ” ‘So she said.” The youth stooped, and placed his hand on the lid to raise it, but paused suddenly and looked hard at Jack. “Sir,” he said, “ last night on the dirty road, footsore and weary, sad and almost heartbroken, and feeling that I hadno friend in the wide world, a strange figure stood before me. Kind tones cheered my drooping spirits, and generous hands aided me. As [I lay in the waggon I wondered whether I should ever again meet you, and certainly never expected to see you here, for of © course I recognise you without the mask you then wore. I have heard strange stories respecting you, but still I felt my heart warm towards you. It does sonow. I need a friend more at this moment than ever I did when, faint — and smarting, I lay in the roadway. Nay, I look upon you as afriend. Dare I’—— Jack stretched forth his hand, and placed it on | the other’s shoulder, and, looking kindly into his face, said, in a soft tone of voice— ‘Sir Richard Clavering, could you trust the man whom the world speaks so ill of ?” “Teould. Forecan LI not give the world the lie? Have I not found you a kind and feeling man ?’’ exclaimed the other. “The greatest villain hides his rascalities under the cloak of religion, sometimes,” said Jack. “True, But you are not one of those who — would cover their sins with the cloak of kind- ness.”’ : “You think not ?” “7 am sure.” (E(o) | NnNiGgpDOoOoKsS.CcOoO