Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 159: what you’re looking at

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

152 A SEVERE THREAT. Something seemed to strike the girl’s heart like a heavy hand, and after that the whole world had changed to the friendless orphan. From that hour her heart was in Lloyd Vernon's kéeping, to do with it as he would. ‘¢Vou are very good,” she said, simply. ‘My name is Lola Gordon ; and, I beg you, if you hold any real pity in your heart for my friendless position, do not speak of what you have witnessed here to a living soul! Only—go to the village—if you keep to your right you cannot miss the way—and find old Zin- gra. Bring her to me, and may God in heaven bless you !” She pressed her red lips to the young man’s.hand. A thrill shot through his frame, and his handsome face flushed hotly. Without another word he left the house, and springing upon his horse, flew off through the awful storm and darkness; the thunder still booming sullenly and the lightning flashing over the sky, as though the storm-fiend could never weary of his work. All at once close behind him Lloyd Vernon heard the dull thud of horses’ feet. On,-on, nearer and nearer it came; he checked his horse involuntarily ; the night was so dark that he could not see a foot before him, but he paused as though wait- ing for something. Suddenly he felt a hand upon his bridle-rein, and his horse was pulled back all at once upon his haunches. Then the over- powering, sickly odor of chloroform greeted his nostrils ; he reeled unsteadily in the saddle, and fell to the ground without a word. k * * ** * * * Kneeling by her mother’s side, Lola clasped the cold, lifeless form in her arms, her red lips showering passionate kisses upon the ashen face. ‘‘Mother! mother!” moaned the girl, in bitter anguish, her eyes full of stern resolve, ‘‘I dedicate my future to avenge your wrongs !” The moments came and went, and still the poor girl crouched there. Outside the storm still raged ; the thunder filled the air Comicboo cS (ere) =)