Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

A SEVERE THREAT 119 yawning cavern of a fire-place, redeeming the room from utter discomfort. Geraldine Vernon leaned against the broad, black marble mantel, and her dark eyes sought Howard Ashleigh’s face. ‘‘] knew you at once,” she repeated, ignoring his former re- mark. ‘‘ Lloyd has written so much about you since you were with us, three years ago, and he sent me your picture. I have it here.” And, with a pretty blush, she turned to a small carved ebony bracket, upon which stood a cabinet photograph of the young man, surprisingly life-like. ‘‘It is your second self, you see,” she went on, with timid grace ; ‘‘and Lloyd wrote me that you had left him and gone to England on business. Iam proud to think that my brother, reared as he has been, has the energy to go forth in the ‘world to make a place for himself; but it is dreadful to be parted from him.” She paused, and suddenly bowing her head upon the mantel, burst into a flood of bitter tears. Astonished and alarmed, Howard hastened to her side. ‘¢Geraldine—Miss Vernon!” he cried: ‘‘ what zs the mat- ter? Why are you here in this isolated place? Can I help you ?” She raised her tear-stained face, and the shining drops dried quickly in her beautiful eyes. ‘‘No,” she answered coldly; ‘‘no one can helpme. You must think me very strange,” she added, quietly, ‘‘ but I could control myself no longer. Mr. Ashleigh, you are my brother's friend. I will tell you all. J am a prisoner here! The win- dows of this house are all nailed fast on the outside ; the outer doors are always locked, and old Judith carries the keys. I have been shut up in this dreary place for nearly a year.” ‘Great heavens |” She checked him with an imperious gesture. ‘‘My brother does not know, of course,” she went on Eomichooks (E(0) =)