Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 160: what you’re looking at

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

al A SEVERE THREAT. 153 with deafening uproar, and the lightning was terrific. The clock on the mantel told off another hour ; but the young man had not yet returned. Had he deceived her? Would he never come? Unable longer to endure the suspense, and the horrible loneliness, Lola pressed one more kiss upon the lifeless lips, and springing to her feet, she opened the door and peered out into the night. | | Crashing thunder and blazing lightning, and in the midst of it all, the faint, far-off shud of a horse’s feet. In her terror and alarm, Lola forgot the storm and the darkness, and catching up a shawl from a chair where it lay, she threw it about her shoul- ders and dashed out into the night. Still the sound of a horse's iron-shod feet striking the hard earth, and still the thunder crashed, and the lightning illumined the black sky with sulphur- ous flames. She could endure the horrible loneliness no longer. She dashed down the narrow path which led to the outer gate, long- ing, oh, so greatly, to hear the sound of a human voice once more. The broad lightning flashes revealed to her gaze a horse stand- ing at the entrance; the saddle hung by a broken girth, but he was riderless and alone. He neighed pitifully, and beat the ground with his feet. ‘“My God!” moaned Lola; for an iron hand seemed to clutch at her heart; ‘‘what has happened! It must be Aes horse—Mr. Vernon’s! But, oh, Heaven! where zs he ?” Hardly had the words passed her lips when there came a blinding flash of lightning, followed by thunder most terrible ; and prone upon her face on the wet sod the girl fell senseless, stunned by the fearful shock. She opened her eyes and gazed wildly about her. ‘The long, fearful storm was over at last; the thunder was at rest, and the gentle dropping of rain upon her face had restored her to con- sciousness. Slowly, slowly the recollection of the night’s horrors strayed Eomichbooks:. co =)