Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 151: what you’re looking at

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

a 144 A SEVERE THREAT. she was alone she lighted a wax taper, and, without unfolding the document, she held it in the flame, and waited patiently while it slowly consumed. She did not wish to know what that dread paper contained ; only let it be destroyed, and then the sacrifice of her life would cover up her father’s sin. Oh, had she but glanced at the secret which that sheet of paper held inviolate, how different all her future might have been ! The last scrap of paper consumed, Geraldine bowed her head upon her hand, and fell into a profound reverie. The moments flitted by. The gilded clock, on a marble pedestal, chimed the hour of ten, and still she sat there oblivious of her surroundings. It was the saddest marriage morn that ever a woman's eyes beheld. At last there camea warning tap upon the door, and her father’s voice called softly : ‘Geraldine, it is getting late; the time is flying. You had better be dressing, my child.” She arose with a weary sigh; her last hour of respite had expired. | ‘‘So help me, Heaven !”—she ground out the threat between her pale lips—‘‘ Sir John Sydney shall suffer yet as I. am suffer- ing now !” and her words were prophetic. She rang for Ninette, and, emotionless as a marble statue, submitted herself to her hands. ‘To the last moment she had hoped .against hope that something would intervene between herself and the horrible fate before her; but the last ray of hope was fading away now, and she seemed to feel a great black door swing to upon her future, and to shut out all but dark despair. » Two hours later the long bridal procession swept up the broad aisle of St. George’s. An immense crowd had gathered, the church was full to overflowing, and the street outside was black with the curious lookers-on. White as the sheeted dead, the bride leaned heavily upon her father’s arm. In her priceless robe of white satin and costly lace, glittering with dia- (elo) =) GEomichooks