CHAPTER XLVII. FATAL CONSEQUENCES

ywithout,thegirlrosetoundrawthecurtain. “Letitbe,”saidSikes,thrustinghishandbeforeher.“There’senoughlightforwotI’vegottodo.” “Bill,”saidthegirl,inthelowvoiceofalarm,“whydoyoulooklikethatatme!” Therobbersatregardingher,forafewseconds,withdilatednostrilsandheavingbreastandthen,graspingherbytheheadandthroat,draggedherintothemiddleoftheroom,andlookingoncetowardsthedoor,placedhisheavyhanduponhermouth. “Bill,Bill!”gaspedthegirl,wrestlingwiththestrengthofmortalfear,—“I—Iwon’tscreamorcry—notonce—hearme—speaktome—tellmewhatIhavedone!” “Youknow,youshedevil!”returnedtherobber,suppressinghisbreath.“Youwerewatchedto-nighteverywordyousaidwasheard.” “ThensparemylifefortheloveofHeaven,asIsparedyours,”rejoinedthegirl,clingingtohim.“Bill,dearBill,youcannothavethehearttokillme.Oh!thinkofallIhavegivenup,onlythisonenight,foryou.Youshallhavetimetothink,andsaveyourselfthiscrimeIwillnotloosemyhold,youcannotthrowmeoff.Bill,Bill,fordearGod’ssake,foryourown,formine,stopbeforeyouspillmyblood!Ihavebeentruetoyou,uponmyguiltysoulIhave!” Themanstruggledviolently,toreleasehisarmsbutthoseofthegirlwereclaspedroundhis,andtearherashewould,hecouldnottearthemaway. “Bill,”criedthegirl,strivingtolayherheaduponhisbreast,“thegentlemanandthatdearlady,toldmeto-nightofahomeinsomeforeigncountrywhereIcouldendmydaysinsolitudeandpeace.Letmeseethemagain,andbegthem,onmyknees,toshowthesamemercyandgoodnesstoyouandletusbothleavethisdreadfulplace,andfarapartleadbetterlives,andforgethowwehavelived,exceptinprayers,andneverseeeachothermore.Itisnevertoolatetorepent.Theytoldmeso—Ifeelitnow—butwemusthavetime—alittle,littletime!” Thehousebreakerfreedonearm,andgraspedhispistol.Thecertaintyofimmediatedetectionifhefired,flashedacrosshismindeveninthemidstofhisfuryandhebeatittwicewithalltheforcehecouldsummon,upontheupturnedfacethatalmosttouchedhisown. Shestaggeredandfell:nearlyblindedwiththebloodthatraineddownfromadeepgashinherforeheadbutraisingherself,withdifficulty,onherknees,drewfromherbosomawhitehandkerchief—RoseMaylie’sown—andholdingitup,inherfoldedhands,ashightowardsHeavenasherfeeblestrengthwouldallow,breathedoneprayerformercytoherMaker. Itwasaghastlyfiguretolookupon.Themurdererstaggeringbackwardtothewall,andshuttingoutthesightwithhishand,seizedaheavyclubandstruckherdown.