Spring-Heel'd Jack, The Terror of London — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

rT —_ 76 SPRING-HEEL’D JACK: THE TERROR OF LONDON. | unsteadiness of your hand. Richard Clavering, you came nigh to adding murder to robbery.” “ Curses! i wish [ had.” ** No doubt.” 44 I do.” | “ The truth is seldom on your lips,” said Jack, “and now I find it there, I look upon it as a good omen. When a bad man becomes truth- ful, we may naturally infer that he will soon forego his other vices.” ~~ “Go to the devil!” roared Richard, turning savagely away. | ““ T hope not, for I should be certain of meet- ing you there some day or other.” “Sir, the presence of a fool is distasteful to me.” | ‘“¢ And the presence of a rogue is the same to me, “Your remark may be just, since it is only fools who will seek to give counsel to rogues,” ‘‘ I need none of yours,” * But you must listen to it,” said Jack, point- edly. | * T will not.” *f You shall. ° *‘ Sir, leave this place.” “* When I have done.” “¢ Shall I summon my servants ?” ** If you please.” : : Jack, who had stood near the bell-pull, moved aside for Richard to advance. But the libertine did not. *¢ Shall T summon them for you ?” asked Jack, after a pause. | “Sir, let this fooling cease. [am in no humour for such nonsense,” said Clavering. ~“ With all my heart,” said Jack. to common-sense. ” What would you with me?” asked Claver- ing, desperately. © “* Urge you to act as a man.” “In what course ?” “Wed that woman.” | »* **T intend to do so.” ie i “* Good.” : Me ‘What more ?”’ Sa Saag '“ When you have wedded her, treat her as a man and a husband,” said Jack. “ What right have you to think I shall not ?” “Your own words,” _“ TIy words ?” ‘f Yes.” “* What words 2?” ‘Those you gave utterance to as I stood be- neath the window.” ‘* Bah ! they were nothing.” : *‘ They were much. J have promised to sur- “ And now t “ Are you ashamed of your name ?2’ sneered Richard. * ‘No, sir. You must not judge me by your | own standard. iIam not aware that I ever dis- graced it. I am neither cheat, robber, nor would-be assassin.” c Se ‘* Nor am [.” Poe 4 Bsc « “ Indeed! Then why did f find you with the knife raised over the bosom of Jessie Bolton? Why did you fire at me?—me, whom you knew | to be no midnight maraucer.” Richard Clavering was silent. ee | “ You cannot answer. Never mind. Let that pass. J forgive you this attempt to take | my life, and seek not to be revenged upon you for the dastardly action.” SP | Richard drew a breath of relief. | “No, sir. I am here only for one purpose, - that of begging you to act like a man if you can- — not feel as one. Yousay you have decided to ~ grant the request of this poor lady. That isa | step in the right direction ; but it has been taken only through fear of exposure—of being held up to the scorn of your fellow-men. You will stand before the altar and swear to love and cherish her. Will you perjure yourself, and add an- other sin to your already sinful soul? You think this woman was only dazzled by your wealth, actuated only by a desire to move in a circle above that to which she has been aceus- tomed, and a desire to be revenged upon you for the slight you have thrown upon her ; but do you think that if she did not love you as a wife can love, that she would consent to stand at the altar with the man who would spurn her for another ; who would seek her life, heap insult and injury upon her? Weigh this in your mind : and, Richard Clavering, you are a greater villain than I think if you do not resolve to treat kindly the woman who, after all this, is willin to become*your bride.” Sai “But the disgrace of marrying a wanton,” said Clavering. ~~ ‘Who made her such ?” asked Jack. He received no reply. | Richard’s eye sank beneath the stern yet in- dignant glance. ‘¢ Who lied to bring her to his arms? Who perjured himself by honied words and false pro- mises to lure her frem her happy home? Who brought sorrow and shame upon her friends— misery and disgrace upon herself—who ? I ask— who?” } Richard spoke not, Jack took a step nearer, and placed his hand on the other’s arm. | render those loaded dice the instant you become her husband, and thus save you from disgrace, and J will keep my word. Then my power over you will end, and threats prove unavailing ; but I would ask you not to disgrace your manhood by cruel spite upon a poor, defenceless woman, who only seeks at your hands that reparation which, were you in her place, you would pray for. Richard Clavering, I cannot respect you after what I have heard and seen, and what has a between us; but if not as a friend, at east as a man, let me ask you to act as such.” “ Your gra—” “ Hold, I say!” interrupted Jack. “T will tell you who, Richard Clavering: | yourself, It was you—you who made her what | she is—you who now would hurl her-forth, if | you dared, to ber—to starve—to die! Shame on you—shame, I say! Is there no green spot | in your heart—no chord that can feel for the | woman you have so basely injured ? Are you lost to all feeling—all remorse—all manhood? — What disgrace to make atonement for the wrongs you have done her? Rather would it not bea — lasting disgrace to refuse that atonement and that love you swore to cherish for her! ” ‘| Never once did Richard Clavering raise his | eyes from the floor. ; ~- ' —— = © oe _—<— «= oe — —_ ‘comicboo -——e—_ S (ele)