Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

sess ieee tt tA ar SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: eee ee _ light. No more with aching eyes and bursting heart would she ply the needle by the halfpenny rush- ight. No more would she tremble at the drunken tones of her landlord, or seek for em- ployment from the hard-fisted Jew. No longer, over-worked and half-starved, would she live on from day to day a life of wretchedness, when one plunge would rid her for ever of all her fears and her sufferings, And as she drew nearer and nearer to that spot from whence she had resolved to take the fatal leap, her footsteps quickened and her sorrowing heart ached less acutely. Still she saw nothing as she went along, Her gaze was turned upon her soul, and could spare not a passing glance for outward objects. She saw not, heeded not, the sudden pause and astonished look of Jack, as she hurried past him. - She heard not his quick footfall on the stone flags as he sped after her, so engrossed was she with the act she meditated. : © Nor was 4t till his hand was laid upon her shoulder that she became cognizant of the presence of another human being. [hen she uttered a cry, and started round. A lamp cast a flickering light upon his face, and she almost shrieked as she turned and sped away from the spot. Jack had forgotten to remove his mask when he made good his escape from the churchyard : @ circumstance which might have caused him some inconvenience had he met with anyone on his route. Still the cause of the girl’s flight and terror did not strike him, and anxious to inform her of where she might find her stolen work, he rushed after her. The girl heard his footsteps behind her, and redoubled her speed. Terror added wings to her flight. “‘ By heavens! she runs well,” muttered Jack ; “but what can induce her to fly from me—what brings her here at this hour ?” Over the flags they went, the girl ever and anon casting terrified glances behind her, and struggling to increase her speed as she-perceived Jack gaining upon her. Stop ! Stop!” he cried, ‘‘I have something to say to you. I will not harm you—I pledge you my word J will not !” he cried, as he stretched forth his hand to stay her flight. But the girl only bounded on the quicker. She had eluded his grasp, and placed a greater distance between them. “Do not seek to avoid me,” he cried; “I assure you I am your friend.” “Oh! leave me—let me go!” she answered, without slackening her speed; “I have no friends.” Listen to me.” ‘Go. Do not stop me.” “Whither do you fly?” asked Jack, as he again essayed to stop her progress. * From the cruel world! ” she gasped. “ Oh! in heaven’s name! let me go.” Jack had grasped at her shawl. She was held by it a moment, but the next she sprang away, leaving it in his hand. This enabled her to place a good space between them. NiGboo 4 THE TERROR OF LONDON, ol Jack stood with the worn shawl in his hand, looking in surprise for some moments after the fleeing figure of Ellen. “Poor girl,” he mentally ejaculated, “what can be her purpose? Why does she thus fly from me—where can she be going? From the cruel world. What do those words portend? Ah!” he added, flinging the shawl to his feet as the truth suddenly flashed across hzs mind, “does she meditate suicide? Her strange manner, her hurried speed, convinces me that she does. Jack, you have killed one poor wretch to-night ; atone for that unintentional deed by saving this poor mortal from herself—from a crime she stops not to think of! Away, Jack! away! or she will elude your arm. ‘Stop! stop!’ "Tis useless to call, she is deaf to entreaty. Quick, Jack! quick! or the dark river will claim its victim!” He gathered up the folds of his long cloak, in order that they should not impede his progress, and bounded along after the fleeing girl at a speed that was truly surprising. Gradually he gained upon her. Her ears, now alive to’every sound, Ellen heard his quick footfall, and struggled to run even faster. But her strength was failing her- Her breath came in short, thick gasps, and a pain in her side, caused by the exertions she made, compelled her to slacken her pace. Jack saw this, and hurried forward. Again he had reached her. Again his hand was upon her shoulder. Once more he had stayed her flight towards the grave. But, as he held her forcibly, she gave utterance to a shriek so wild and piercing, that Jack let go his hold and started back. “You 'shall not go!” he cried, as he quickly recovered himself, and again sprang forward to stay her. But as he stretched forth his arm it was seized by a man, who, aroused from a doorway where he had been standing by the cry of the half- frantic girl, had sprung forward to her aid, believing her to be one of those unfortunate wretches whom some imagine, because they are fallen, may be insulted or outraged with impunity. This circumstance enabled Ellen to again rush on, which she did, despite her loss of breath and the pain she endured, the new-comer urging her forward by saying— “ Run--run, and leave this blackeuard to me! We are man to man, and though want has weakened a once-powerful frame, I have still sufficient streneth left to chastise the scoundrel who can insult a defenceless woman.” : Jack had grasped the man’s shoulders with the intention of hurling him to the earth, but, as he save utterance to these words, he released his hold, and, with a look of admiration, which was lost upon the man, on account of our hero’s face still being covered by the hideous mask, he said— “ Whoever you be, those sentiments show a noble mind and a good heart ; and the utterance of them has saved you a fall, perhaps, that you would have felt for many a long day. Let go your hold!”