[Gutenberg 46398] • The Manchester Rebels of the Fatal '45

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to [www.million-books.com](http://www.million-books.com) where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: What means this sudden change, Bertha? he saidr surprised and angry. You had no such commiseration for her when we last talked over the matter. You were willing enough to aid me then. You tempted me by your offer; but I now repent. I understand the enormity of the offence, and will not burden my soul with so much guilt. You have gone too far to retreat. Having made a bargain you must fulfil it. Swear to me that you will not injure the child, or I will not bring it to you. I have already told you I do not mean to harm it. But swear by all you hold sacred that you have no design upon the child's life. Do this, or I will give the alarm. Attempt to utter a cry and I will kill you, he said, sternly. I have not come here to be thwarted in my purpose. Go in at once. Terrified by the menacing tone in which the order was given, Bertha obeyed, and returned to the room from which she had issued. Perhaps she might have fastened the door if time had been allowed, but the man in the mask followed her too quickly. It was an antechamber which she occupied as nurse. A door communicating with the inner aparbment stood partly open, and in obedience to an imperious gesture from the terrible intruder, she passed through it. She was now in a large antique bed-chamber, imperfectly lighted up by a lamp placed on a small table near the bed, in which lay one of the fairest creatures imaginable. The contour of the sleeper's countenance was exquisite, and her raven tresses, which had not been confined, flowed over her neck, contrasting strongly with its dazzling whiteness. Close beside her, with its little head resting upon a rounded arm that might have served a sculptor as a model, .slept her babe. A smile seemed to play upon the slumbering mother's lips, ...