Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

~~ A SEVERE THREAT. 143 ‘‘ Don't?’ cried the girl, sharply, and the two small hands clenched themselves together until there were purple marks on the delicate white flesh. Ninette stared in surprise, and, turning to the velvet case be- fore her, lifted it with tender touch. ‘*Please, Miss Geraldine—may I open this?” she cried, be- seechingly ; for she-had always been a favorite with her young mistress, and was spoiled accordingly. Geraldine nodded carelessly. What mattered all the mag- nificence with which she was surrounded when her heart was broken? | ‘*T’ll open it, then,” went on the maid; ‘‘and after that it will be time for you to let me dress you, for it’s past nine, and at twelve, you know, the ceremony is to take place. And it’s such a lovely day, Miss Geraldine! ‘ Happy is the bride that the sun shines on!’ Oh!” Ninette had the casket open now, and drew back from the table with a little shriek of wonder and delight. Sir John’s bridal gift to his unwilling bride was a magnificent set of dia- monds and opals mingled. They lay upon their white satin bed in matchless beauty. ‘‘ Opals!” ejaculated Ninette, with a little pout; ‘‘why, that’s too bad! Sir John has sent you opals, Miss Geraldine, and they're unlucky stones, you know.” The bride to be smiled faintly—a derisive ghost of a smile ; she turned her head slowly, and just then a gleam of white caught her eyes, and she saw that a folded paper lay at the bet- tom of the jewel-case. She drew it slowly forth and glanced at the superscription. ‘‘ Lionel Vernon’s Confession,” it said ; and beneath these words were added in Sir John Sydney's hand- writing : ‘¢Burn this’paper, and your father’s crime will remain a dead secret, for no one in the world save myself holds a clew to the dreadful deed.”’ Pale and trembling, Geraldine dismissed her maid. When (ae) 3 Eomicbooks