Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

42 ments of his-features bespoke him one who gave unbridled eee Ce to his worst passions. It was evident from the flushed face and ex- | SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON. my bounty—trusting to my generosity for bread.” Ll ‘Oh! God!” sighed the girl; “and has it pression of his eyes that he had been drinking | come to this? Wretch—wretch! are you so freely, and a red scar, passing iro! to the ear, told of injury received in some aitray of recent date. Even in her indignation, his companion was far more beautiful than the ordinary run of her sex ; tall in stature, graceful in deportment, with features of regular symmetry, and eyes of match- less brightness, she was one of those whom any man might be pardoned for looking upon with admiration. But the lovely features were convulsed now with passion—the worst of all passions—jealousy. A few months before, and she was the pride of her father’s house, the hope of a doting mother, the envy of her sex—pure in heart, in mind, in name. Now she was the wearied mistress of the man before her—the libertine, Richard Clavering. He had been smitten with her beauty, and she, fascinated by his manner, led away by his plausible tongue, listened to his lying promises, and deserted friends, kindred, home—all for him, only to find, when too late, like the moth that flutters around the alluring flame, ‘“‘ that all that glitters is not gold,” and that poverty with purity of soul are richer gifts than splendour allied to dishonour. The toy had pleased him for a time ; then he wearied of it—then sought the gratification of his passions in other quarters, and now desired the absence of Jessie Bolton to make room for another—one who had hitherto repulsed him, but over whom he fondly believed gold would triumph. And she had, from his coldness, suspected his desires, followed and watched him at the theatre door, all the agonies of jealousy tearing at her heart. She could have rushed upon and upbraided him with his perfidy, but by an effort she had resolved to wait till he returned home. Yes, she would not let him see her, or allow him to imagine she doubted him ; but when she saw him struck down by Spring-heeled Jack, all the old love returned, and she was by his side to aid him, Home together had they come. He, annoyed, ashamed, walked before her in silence, | She, with all the passions of jealousy returned, followed him in silence. She found it difficult to keep pace with him. And now they stood face to face in that sumptuous apartment, where night alter night she awaited him—where he had whispered eternal love in her ears, and where she afterwards sat in tears at the thought of what she had hare and the memory of her past happy fe. ‘A contemptible villain, am I?” he said, clenching his hand as he spoke, and taking a step nearer to her. ‘’ Yes, a villain!’ ‘* Beware, you speak not thus to me,” he said, his flushed face becoming even more purple. * Recollect what you are—a thing living upon: from the teniple! fallen, so debased, so lost, as to taunt me with what I am—what you have made me?” “?Twas your own inclination that led you to sin, if sin you call it.” ‘Tt was your lying promises—your perjured oaths, Richard.” ~ “ Bah! it may elittered till it blinded your reason.” “ No—no! oh, no!” “ What then?” “Your love?” “Yes ” ¢ Bah!” ¢ Ay, scoff at it now that you are tired of it,” she said, with a deep sigh and a fresh gush of scalding tears. ‘“ It was love which led me to believe youa true man—it was loye which blinded me to your true nature, and now where are your promises—where—where } ” ae 4: ere I always intended they should be,” he sneered. | Viv » ‘Oh! how have you fallen, shameless man, when you can stand there and own yourself a liar.” vi The young man set his teeth “ Curse you!” he hissed. wou not have me hurl you forth into the streets” starve, taunt me no more.’’ he * Coward !” “ot ‘‘ Fool, rather, that ever I looked upon you as worthy a passing glance,” he sneered. “ But ’tis the reward of men of position when they conde- scend to stoop to admire rustic heauty. ‘ Place a beggar on horseback and he'll ride to the devil.’ Smile upon a poor peasant girl, and she aspires to the position of wife, when she is honoured by that of mistress.” The bosom of Jessie rose and fell with the tumultuous emotions that shook her soul. hard together. OTe oe aed “Oh ! mother, mother, could you see me now!” she gasped forth, in tones of such agony that even that callous-hearted man moderated the contemp- tuous curl upon his lip. | ‘ ‘‘Tt’s a great pity she don’t,” he said, “for then I should be rid of you.” ; ‘‘ Is that your hope?” op rs hee <i “That you may place another in my position?” she asked, eg hae ‘* Perhaps.” « “That you may drag down to ruin and degra-- dation another soul, whom the breath of im- purity has not yet stained.” = ‘“ May be,” he said, coldly, and playing with the massive gold chain that hung at his waist- eoat button-hole, “That you may blight another’s hopes, ruin her peace of mind for ever, then insult and cast her aside as you would me,” she continued, her pale face flushing with shame and indi na and her bright eyes sparkling in the jealous fire that consumed her. ‘Tt is more than probable,” he sneered. ‘* And you own this to me ?” | “ Why not?” liave been my wealth, that ' comicbooks.com