Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 186: what you’re looking at

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

‘ - «* J wr io \e_* A SEVERE THREAT. . 179 peace—all for naught! And now—we find that he has re- turned to his native land, and you, you forget your pride, for- get the race from which you descend, forget your own self- respect, and—find his whereabouts—and go to see him! Venetia, my heart is so full of shame and the burden of this disgrace, that I long to die !” Lady Venetia sprang to her feet, with the mien and gesture of an outraged empress. Her face was snowy white ; her blue eyes glinted like steel mirrors; her long gold hair, all afloat, had the look of yellow serpents clinging about her slim, grace- ful figure ; one white hand, shimmering with diamonds and rubies, was uplifted, with a tragic gesture. ‘‘Hear me!” she panted, hoarsely. ‘‘ That man has scorned - me—he shall live to be scorned! He has disowned me—the day shall come when he shall grovel in the dust at my feet, and plead, in bitter remorse and agony, for me to take him back to my heart again! I know where to strike; I can see the truth ; He spurned me from his side to-day, because—listen to me, Aunt Esther !—he has eyes and thought for no one save the black-eyed witch who bends above his pillow, and tends him with the care that a wife bestows upon her husband. I know how to strike, and, when the time comes, I will strike— through her!” She ceased, overcome by the force of her own intense passion, and sinking upon a chair, she buried her face in her hands. | , The old lady bent above her, and pressed her lips to the golden hair. ‘‘Venetia, my child,” she murmured, softly, . ‘‘T love you dearly ; I will help you all that lies in my power. Together we will aim at this woman who stands in your path—who dares to come between you and Lloyd Vernon ; and we will strike through her heart to his breast !” The twilight shadows were gathering, and now they dark- ened the room with their gray, ghostly presence. Some- EComichooks.co