Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 224: what you’re looking at

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

? A SEVERE THREAT. 217 ‘The words fluttered from her white lips, Then she chécked herself with sudden recollection. No matter what she suffered, this wretch should not gloat over it—should not have the grat- ification of knowing how intense was her agony. ‘‘ Yes,” the -baronet went on, slowly, studying her face all the time, to see how his words cut, and sank into her quivering heart, ‘‘it was the murder of Howard Ashleigh, But, Ger- aldine, what would you say if I told you (ah, my dear, truth is far stranger than fiction, you know !) that Howard Ashleigh was not murdered—that it was alla mistake. Your father is onlya murderer in intent, not reality, and you have sacrificed yourself on the altar of filial affection, all in vain.” She did not speak ; her eyes were gazing straight before her into space, and although her pale lips moved slightly, no sound escaped them. The villain went on, in that same malicious tone : ‘© Yes, you have made a martyr of yourself, my dear ; and all for naught. Your father is innocent of the young mans death, and Howard Ashleigh still lives. What have you to say, Ger- aldine?”’ She threw up her hands with a gesture of triumph, and a glad light flashed into her dark eyes. ‘What flave I to say?” she panted, her voice ringing out like a silvery trumpet call—‘‘this! That Howard Ashleigh is my husband, and 1 love him; if he still lives, I am his wife ; and oh, thank God! thank God! I am free from you/” And the scorn and triumph in her voice were beyond ex- pression. The baronet suppressed a smile, ‘Not so fast, my lady!” he cried, maliciously ; ‘‘not quite so fast! There are sorrows in this world worse—far worse— than death! You may be as effectually divided as though the dark grave lay between you, yet both be living. Read this.” Gomicboo cS (E(@) =)