Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 179: what you’re looking at

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

172° A SEVERE THREAT. slumber. When he awoke again Lola was still beside him, and all that had occurred since their last meeting was ex- plained. He closed his eyes wearily. ‘‘T would like to see my father,” he said, at length. ‘¢Vour father is in London, Mr. Vernon,” returned Lola. “‘/We have taken pains to ascertain his whereabouts. He went there some weeks since to be present at your sisters wed- ding.” Lloyd’s dark eyes flew open with incredulous surprise. ‘‘ My—sister’s—wedding !” he gasped, brokenly. ~ ‘‘ Oh, no! Ido not understand you !” ««She was married to Sir John Sydney, of Sydney House, near Waltham,” explained Lola. Ere the astonished young man could form a reply, some one tapped at the door of the sick-room. “<Come in!” cried Lola’s clear, sweet voice. The knob turned slowly, the door opened, and an involun- tary cry of surprise issued from Lola Gordon’s lips. There upon the threshold stood a strange lady—a delicate, fairy-like creature, with a peach-blossom face, and eyes like the blue of a ‘summer sky ; and golden clouds of hair falling in loose waves upon her graceful shoulders. It would have taken an astute ——— physiognomist to peer beneath the beautiful surface and detect the claws under the velvet ; the hard, glassy glitter which some- times crept into the unclouded azure eyes ; and the expression of supreme cruelty which could take possession of the perfect face. Yet there was something in the atmosphere about this woman which was as suggestive as are the black clouds piled upon the sky yonder, that we are about to be treated to a thunder-storm. The sick man turned uneasily, as the door opened, and his dazed eyes fell upon the lady’s face. His own grew ghastly—he caught his breath with a low gasp of pain, or horror, and lifted one hand as though to keep her away. ‘“Venetia !” his white lips faltered. She darted forward, and with a tragic gesture fell upon her => comicbooks (eo)