Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

A SEVERE THREAT. 28 me that a stranger has been admitted here! How dare you disobey my express commands, and fraternize with the first tramp that happens to stroll this way? A good thing for him, whoever he may be, that he has taken himself off.” She flashed her proud eyes upon his harsh face. ‘“And, how dare you make a prisoner of your own daugh- ter?” she cried, haughtily. ‘‘ Lionel Vernon, if you think to bend my will to your purpose, you are only wasting time. Iam a Vernon, and the Vernons are not easy to conquer or coerce. Weare said to be a proud race; and I have never heard of dishonor attached to our name—until now !” He started angrily. ‘‘Do you mean me?” he cried. She met his gaze with eyes that never flinched. “T mean you/” she returned, slowly. ‘‘Father, do you see no dishonor in this thing that you would have me to do? ‘This marriage, for the sake of wealth and position—and ‘s He checked her with an angry gesture. ‘Stop !” he commanded, sternly. ‘‘Since you are so inso- lent, I will spare you no longer. I have mercifully concealed from you the real reason why this marriage must take place, There is a secret in our family, Geraldine—a guilty secret. It is in the hands of Sir John Sydney. If you consent to marry him, you will be Lady Sydney, with limitless wealth at your command ; but, if you refuse "he gazed comprehensively into the girl’s white, drawn face—‘‘ you bring ruin upon your own name, Sir John has agreed to save us from ignominy and last- ing disgrace—he has promised to do it, the price being your hand in marriage.” ‘A fearful price!” she panted. ‘‘ Father,’—she folded her arms upon her breast, and confronted him, her face like marble, her eyes shining like stars—‘‘ he who sins must pay the penalty. I ask not who is the criminal, or what his crime; I only know. that the innocent should not always suffer for the guilty, and I (eo) comicbooks