Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 248: what you’re looking at

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

tense consternation and surprise pervading the entire audience were too genuine to admit of any outside interest, and all waited with suspended breath while Geraldine began and told her strange story from beginning to end ; even to the threat of Sir John Sydney to imprison her in an asylum fortheinsane. Ger- aldine’s voice rang out clear and stern and defiant, and she con- cluded : ‘‘Of my» father, of Lionel Vernon,” she said, ‘‘I have nothing to ay. Ihave no friends. My brother is absent, and there is no one whose protection I can claim.” The young man in the secluded corner of the court-room arose, and made his way from the place. Adjoining the court- house was the great, old-fashioned village church, and ‘the grave-yard, which for centuries had received the dead of the sur- rounding country. He went straight to the tomb of the Syd- neys, and seated himself on a rustic seat nearby. In the mean- time the case was postponed for the present, until the proper and customary formalities could be observed ; and Sir John Sydney was marched off to the village jail, followed by an ugly crowd, which threatened to become a mob, and take justice into their own hands, | Just as Geraldine turned to leave the court-room she saw, hastening toward her, her brother. ‘‘ My poor sister!” he cried, folding her to his breast. ‘‘ You need never again complain of being alone in the world. It has not been my fault that we were not together long ago.” After the first joy of the reunion was over, Geraldine, pale and faint, leaning on Lloyd’s arm, went out into the open air, Lola accompanying them. They entered the old grave-yard, and began to pace up and down the grassy walks. All of a sudden Geraldine came to an abrupt halt; her face white as death, her dark eyes dilating with surprise, wonder ; her breath coming in gasps, her small hands outstretched, pointing to the great tomb of the Sydneys. ‘‘Look, look !” she panted, wildly. ‘‘It is Howard Ash- leigh! Oh, my God, I thank thee !” . She tottered forward a few paces. The young man aroseand drew near, pale and trembling. ‘¢ Howard !” she panted, ‘‘zs it really true?” His arms were about her in an instant, his lips showered fond kisses upon her pale face. : _ *T was in the court-room,” he cried ; ‘‘ I have heard all your ‘strange story. .There-is no -need of explanation.. Qh, Ger- A SEVERE THREAT, 241 EOmIEchbooks:.Go