Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1883-06-02 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

CHAPTER XLIX. EAT TOUR PERIL, HUNT MB DOWN!" . . .  WITH a sickening sensa'tion at her heart, and a relactance that amounted to loathing, Winifred turned her steps in the direction of Lower-road. She had never been there since the hour she had emerged from its unhallowed haunts to force her way—it was no less—into Lady Whittlesea's house. The neighbourhood had been carefully avoided by her in the days of her respectability. The street seemed more forlorn and disreputable than ever. As Winifred paced along, the thought of what she was and what she had been—her comfortable home and these dens of infamy—begot a wild and passionate dread, lest by any means her prosperity might be wrested from her. " I would rather die!" mid she, vehemently— "oh, a thousand times' I would rather die!" She hurried along, her silk dress and handsome shawl attracting the attention of the passers-by. Very rarely was a woman of her appearance seen in the Lower-road. At length she reached the house, with its open door, and broad, neglected staircase. Out of the open windows some wretched women and dirty children had just put their heads to catch a breath of summer air—air, polluted and unwholesome as their dwellings! More than one pair of eyes were fixed wonderingly on Winifred. She stood at the door a moment, irresolute. Should she, or should she not, ascend the staircoos? It was quite a lottery,—this search for Hugh Godfrey. . .  The woman who owned the house, and who lived on the ground floor now came out; her face red, as if she had been drinking.  " Happen you're the lady as brings the track.! We won't have no tracks here! The lodgers doesn't like 'em."  "YOU are mistaken. I have no tracts," replied Winifred.  -------" Well • then what did you please to want P " , • • •  • The aristocracy were not popular in Lower-road. "I came to inquire ifs young man of the name of Goeffreu lodges here," said Winifred, forcing herself to speak calmly. "Happen be does, and happen he doesn't," said the woman, insolently. "1 am sure you will tell me," returned Winifred. putting a trifle into her hand, and thankful that the woman did not recognise her voice. "I wish particularly to see him." "Oh, very well. / don't care. He won't be here long, I can tell you. I don't let lodgingt to them as can't pay," replied the woman, scratimaing the coin Winifred had given her. Winifred, the sickness at her heart Increasing almost .to suffocation, ascended the stairs..  Wild faces and ni'ggeet forms appeared on every side of her. She was constitutionally bravo, or she would have lost her presence of mind. Not many women, well-dressed as she was, dared have ventured alone and in the twilight. They would have thought of robbery and murder. As if by instinct, she made her way, step by step, to the great, broad landing. Here she paused. There were several doors, but her eyes were riveted on one—the door in the corner. It opened into the room she had once occupied, and to which she had conducted Hugh. Oh, those days ! She pressed her hand on her forehead. Days of shame, and misery, and of want, when even a shelter like this was grasped at. Would they ever come again? She laid her hand upon the latch, her face white, her eyes glittering, every pulse throbbing with scorn and loathing; she opened it, and looked in.  (T; be contisuid.)