Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

- i 4 + A SEVERE THREAT. My within, followed by a rattling of bolts and chains (the house was evidently well secured), the great door swung slowly open, and the young man saw before him an immense wainscoted hall, and confronting him on the threshold a hideous old woman, sullen and wrinkled. She drew back in undisguised alarm as her eyes fell upon the stranger. ‘‘] thought it was the master!’ she muttered, making a movement to close the door in the young man’s face. He lifted his hat. ‘‘T have lost my way,” he began, in his frank, straight- forward manner; ‘‘night is coming down, and there is a storm brewing ; can I obtain shelter here for the night ?” The old crone’s ugly face grew harsher. ‘No, you can’t!” she answered, shortly. ‘‘ My orders is, admit no one! So, young man, you can just tramp on again ; it ain't but five miles from here to Waltham, after you leave this gate, and you'll soon % ‘* He shall stay !” 3 The old woman started, with a suppressed groan, and How- ard Ashleigh turned in astonishment, to see an unexpected apparition. Down the long, carved, oaken staircase, slippery as glass, which wound its sinuous way up from the center of the great, black entrance-hall, glided the slim, graceful figure of a girl—the face which he had seen at the window above; and again the conviction stole over him that her face was like the pictured one which lay upon his breast. A pale, little face, with great black eyes, the cloud of yellow hair contrasting strangely with their lustrous darkness ; and upon every feature the traces of pride, passion, and impatience plainly visible. He bowed with courteous grace. ‘‘T should esteem it a great favor,” he said, ‘‘but I have no desire to intrude or inconvenience. ” ‘*Come in!” she interrupted. ‘‘It is going to rain. We have fearful storms here sometimes. Judith, lead the way.” And she turned to the old woman, who was standing in Eomichbooks =) (ee)