But now! An exhumed corpse galvanized into a horrid semblance of life
might look as he did--with just such sunken cheeks and ashen lips and
frozen eyes; with just such a collapsed and shuddering form; yet,
withal, could not have shown that terrific look of utter, incurable
despair! His fingers, talon-like in their horny paleness and rigidity,
clutched his breast, as if to tear some mortal anguish thence, and his
glassy eyes were fixed in unutterable reproach upon her face! Thrice he
essayed to speak, but a gurgling noise in his throat was the only
result. With a last great effort to articulate, the blood suddenly
filled his throat and gushed from his mouth! For a moment he sought to
stay the hemorrhage by pressing a handkerchief to his lips; but soon his
hand dropped powerless to his side; he reeled and fell upon the floor!
Jacquelina gazed in horror on her work.
And then her screams of terror filled the house!
The family came rushing in. Foremost entered the commodore, shaking his
stick in a towering passion, and exclaiming at the top of his voice:
"What the devil is all this? What's broke loose now? What are you
raising all this row for, you infernal little hurricane?"
"Oh, uncle! aunty! mother! look--look!" exclaimed Jacquelina, wringing
her pale fingers, and pointing to the fallen man.
Pages:
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255