Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 223: what you’re looking at

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

216 A SEVERE THREAT. 39 ‘<T know where to find it when the time comes,” she re- turned, icily. She had spoken at random, and she did not know that proof was even now at hand—proof which would have power to make this man quail, and be the cause of his downfall. Sir John did not dream to what lengths her spirit of hatred and her desire for vengernce would bear her. He had brought her back to Sydney House in the face of the gossip and conse- quent excitement which threatened to prove of more than the traditional nine days’ duration. He stood watching her now attentively, and there crept into his heart a wish that she was really resting in the ancestral tomb of the Sydneys. But the time was drawing nigh for the baronet to show his hand in this bold game that he was playing. ‘‘ Geraldine,” he said, slowly, after a silent and prolonged ~ survey of her pale, drooping face, ‘‘ your father was in my power when I married you. I sent you his confession. Did you read it before you destroyed it ?” | She glanced into his face with contemptuous eyes. ‘No, I did not,” she answered, slowly. He threw his head back and laughed aloud—a coarse, brutal laugh. ‘‘ How well I probed your nature!” he sneered, at length. ‘* You remember that I advised you to burn the paper without seeking to know its contents? Had you opened the document, you would have found it a dank!” She started, and flashed her dark eyes upon his insolent face. ‘‘What do you mean?” she demanded, haughtily. ‘“As though I would have given you the true paper!” he sneered, ‘‘and place myself in your power. Oh, no! my Lady Geraldine ; I was not quite such an idiot. Let me break the news to you, my dear. The crime which your father confessed to me, was the crime of murder/ More, the murder of Howard . Ashleigh !” ‘“God in heaven |” =) Eomichooksico