Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

138 } A SEVERE THREAT, ward the fire, he folded his arms upon his breast, and gazed down into her face with pitiless eyes. ‘‘Stella,” he began, abruptly, after a moment's silence, ‘‘are you sorry that you married me?” : All she dark, rich beauty of her face lit up with a crimson glow. She shook her head slowly. ‘‘T loved you,” she cried, ‘‘and I always believed that you were happy with me, until you left me with my child in sunny France and came to this country. I waited years for your re- turn—what was life without you? The money that you sent _ me was not a substitute for your presence, and so, a few months ago, unable longer to endure the separation, I followed you here, guided by the postmark on your letters to me. I found you ; but, alas! you are as much a stranger to me as though I were in a distant land. In obedience to your command, I have secluded myself in this lonely place ; but I am tired of hiding like a criminal from justice. I am willing to share your puv- erty, dear, and your station in life, whatever it may be. Besides, Lola is eighteen now, and I cannot always keep her concealed. She is very beautiful. John, you need not be ashamed of your | wife and child !” How perfect she was, with her earnest eyes upon his face. To her there was no lack of grace or beauty in the man _ before her—for she loved him. Woman-like, she invested him with the attributes of a god, and fell down before the clay image which she had exalted. This man, devoid of beauty, was nevertheless extremely fascinating when he chose to be. He struck his talons in the heart of this woman, Stella Gilroy, and she believed him little less than an angel. True, he had neg- lected her for years, but she had always been ready with an ex- cuse for his delinquency when he returned to her; and even now she forgave his harshness, woman-like, because he Aad come back, you see. For a time he stood in moody silence. Stella ventured to make one more attempt at conciliation. It was evident that Gomichbooks.co