Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

; : yan are and not a devil, spare me and save your- selfs’’.. Grasper rose steadily from the seat he had taken on entering the room. “Jane Slater,” he said, “I am a man of few words... Iam here to receive.your reply to the propositions I have made. TI offered to spare your husband ”— | - ».“* But at what price?’ she casped: “at that of | his wife’s honour ?” Grasper bowed coldly. | Hf on you stand there without a blush ”’ .f Oh! sir, be. merciful to me, to him, to your- self,” cried Jane. ‘‘ Forgive the deed he has done, and. léave me in peace. Oh! God! you ‘Bre vot lost.to all feeling. Your Saye hot so callous. but that my. agony must touch it. Here, on my knees, I implore you, save us all.” She sank on her knees at his feet. . “noush of this;’ said Grasper. “I am tired of this fooling ; yes or no ?” “ Again; I say, will you be mine ?” Think what you ask.” f T have thought.” =. “Transport your. husband unless you submit to my desires,” said Grasper. ‘Can there be no other means?” ** None.” ) . {Then . heaven have mercy on, your soul,” sobbed Jane, rising from her recumbent position. Perhapsit will,” he sneered. . And perhaps it will not,” said Jane. “Well, no matter now,” said Grasper. ‘ You, at least, are not to blame. If you yield, you do so under the. pressure of circumstances. Bah! any one would think you were some romantic school girl.” ) | we “Tama woman and a wife,” sobbed Jane. _.** Then the greater reason why you should not #0 on in this stupid way.” “ Ah! me!” “Come, now, be sensible ; look upon the mat- tér 4s 2 business transaction, that’s all. Ido not ‘ask for your love, for that is a commodity I don’t understand much about.” “* No, indeed.” } ..“So come to business at once; you know the terms.” “Too well.” _ 7 “Then they will not require mentioning again,” said Grasper. ‘ Now, give your deci- She cast an appealing glance upon him... . But Grasper remained still the cold, stern man heever was. | _ There was not the least trace of mercy in the hard lines sof,his features. | | . She read there her fate, her certain fall, if she wonld save her husband from a felon’s doom. . Fearful was the strugsle which raged within er bosom. Could she sacrifice herself to that man? | Could she know that she possessed the power to save her husband, and yet refuse to obtain him his liberty ? | Which way should she decide ? ~—s -SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON. G7 Ehave.bedh anade.to,bedr.. Oh! man tif man| To appeal further to Grasper’s generosity she knew would be vain. She clasped her forehead in her hands, and with an effort that almost tore her heart-strings asunder, she gasped forth— “JT must save him; but, oh! God! at whata price ! what a price !” She flung her hands wildly above her head, and then fell forward. But Grasper caught her in his arms. = ‘“ At last,” he muttered, as he placed the stif- fened and insensible form upon a chair, “at last she is mine !” : ‘‘ And you are mine !” cried a hollow voice be- hind him. | Grasper turned quickly, and stood face to face with an apparition that chased every drop of blood from his cheeks, and left him pale as the fainting woman beside him. His iron-gray hair stiffened up on his head, and he shook like an aspen leaf, then suddenly recovering himself, he gasped out— “Who are you 2?” “ One who will thwart your villainous scheme —one who means you not to injure that woman either by word or deed—one who will hang on your footsteps like a shadow, and crush the coward wretch whose soul is lost to pity or re- morse.” ) “T. know who you are.” ‘* Sprine-heeled Jack !” ti ‘Yes; leave this house,” stammered Grasper. ‘Your presence here will frighten this woman to death.” | | “My presence here may save her from a worse fate. Villain! I have stood in that pas- sage and heard all that has passed.” “You have.” ‘1 have.” | The colour, which was returning to the cheeks of Grasper, faded on the instant. - He looked around him, as if anxious to secure some weapon. Jack guessed his purpose, and stretching forth his hand, he seized Grasper by the throat. “ Would you murder me ?”’ he asked. ‘‘No,” said Jack, ‘‘you are too pitiful -a scoundrel for any nian to place his life in jeopardy for. A brute beast should only be treated as such.” | And swinging the merchant round, Jack dealt him a severe kick at the hollow of his back, and thrust him out of the room into the passage. ‘‘ You shall pay dearly for this,” said Grasper, foaming with rage. 3 Another kick in the same place was the reply vouchsafed by Jack. “ Help ; mur’’—— The toe of Jack’s boot was once more against the person of Ralph Grasper. “Now, hark you, sir,” said Jack, in a pointed tone, ** you will do well to leave this place.” “ At your bidding ?” ‘Yes, at mine.” ‘¢T will have you drageed to prison.” . “And I will drae you through the wearest horse-pond if you don’t go quickly,” said Jack, again raising his foot. _ | Grasper saw the movement, and sprang to- wards the street door. ECON MUCEL MOO LCS (E@) :