Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

A SEVERE THREAT. 165 ‘¢T have promised to marry Sir John Sydney. It is best in every way, and I shall keep the promise that I made concerning him. How dearly I have loved Howard! But all that is past. God grant me the boon of forgetfulness !” Here the entry ceased. Howard Ashleigh bowed his head, and his strong frame shook with tearless sobs, for this fearful sorrow had wrecked his whole life. At-last he lifted his face, white and haggard, and confronted his tormentor. ‘*T wish to Heaven!” he cried, fiercely, ‘‘ that the knife. of the assassin whom you hired to kill me had sunk into my heart, Death is far preferable to the horrible fate before me. You are right, Mr. Vernon. I have no wish to see my wife mow, She be- lieves me dead, and her heart, changeable and unstable as are the hearts of most women, has gone over to the enemy at last. Since she believes me dead, I am dead henceforth. No, you must not look so eager and hopeful. I have no intention of committing suicide, but my very name shall be buried in ob- livion. Geraldine—Lady Sydney—shall never dream that her lawful husband still lives.” Vernon laid one trembling hand upon his arm. ‘©Good Heaven !” he panted, you—you would make her a bigamist ! I have you to thank for all this misery !” Howard’s face was full of contempt. He shook off the clinging hand. | ‘‘ How dare you !” he cried, indignantly, ‘‘ how dare you ac- cuse me of the crime which you instigated? I cannot alter the truth. Geraldine zs my wife; but she shall never dream that there is aught of dishonor in what she has done. I would kill myself first. But woe to the hand that has wrought all this shame, and anguish, and misery, for the day will surely come which bringeth retribution !” He turned, and, witha look upon his haggard face which Lionel Vernon could never forget, he staggered over the threshold, the door closed behind him, and Howard Ash- leigh’s dream of love and happiness was over. Gomicboo Ss) (E(0) =)