Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

BONNY JEAN. 105 smiling into the faces of her audience, with the same old charm of manner which had always been so irresistible in Lady Lee. Half demented, John sat silent, and watched her. He had eyes for no one else on the stage. He knew. nothing concern- ing the play ; he only gazed at Lady, until the magnetism of his gaze must have attracted her, for she turned suddenly, saw him, and fell to the floor ina dead faint. She was carried behind the scenes, and soon restored to con- sciousness. The perplexed manager came before the curtain with an hum- ble apology ; but Lady, once herself again, insisted on going on with the play ; and she did—to the very end. But when the curtain had fallen upon the last act, and, lit- erally covered with floral tributes, the young actress had sought the privacy of her own dressing-room, all her enforced calmness gave way, and she bowed her head, and wept tears of bitter agony. There was a rap at the door of the room, and Lillian Lester appeared. ‘‘Why, Lady dear, what is the matter?” she cried, aghast at the sight of Adelaide in tears; ‘‘one would think that you had made a positive failure, instead of being quoted as the grand success of the season! Manager Horton is waiting out- side with a splendid engagement to offer you! Lady, dear, you are bound to become famous ! And Harry—oh! he is so proud of you! Come, Lady, don't cry—whatever zs the matter?” | Another rap at the door precluded any explanation, and some one brought a card, with a request for admission. Lady glanced at the card; her heart told her, before her eyes had fallen upon it, who was coming. Yes—John Averill! That was the name. Lady pressed the senseless bit of pasteboard to her lips. She could not refuse him an audience; and in a moment more he was standing before her—just the same cool, quiet John as ever. (eo) Comichooks 3