Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

é 19' BONNY JEAN. remain there no longer, and they must endeavor to lay somé plan for the future. A rap at the door aroused them, and in response to Mrs. Conway’s summons the door opened, and Gabriel Black stood before them. He was dressed in a plain suit of black, which made his pale face appear even paler, while his deep, uncanny eyes glared from their cavernous sockets witha wild, unpleasant gleam. In one long, thin, yellow hand he held a folded paper, and as he bowed deferentially, he opened this paper slowly. ““Mrs. Conway,” he began, in his sleek, suave tone, ‘‘ Miss Jean, I have in my possession a document, executed at your father’s.desire, the evening before he died. It had been his in- tention to ask Mr. Randall, as a lawyer, and of course under- standing such matters, to draw up the paper, but Mr. Randall had gone to the village for a doctor, and Mr. Conway feared that when he would return it might be too late, so he begged me to attend tothe matter, and of course I did the best I could. You remember, Miss Jean’—he turned suddenly, and his glit- tering, beady eyes transfixed Jean Conway's blue ones—‘‘ your father wished you to promise him something when he was dying ; nay, I believe’—herea strange, half smile stole over his re- pulsive face—‘‘that you swore to follow his wishes! Am I correct ?” ‘You are,” returned Jean, coldly, rising as she spoke, and leaning one elbow on the rough wooden mantel ; ‘‘but I do not understand how that can possibly concern you /” ‘“‘It concerns me a great deal,” he returned, sardonically, “as you will discover when you learn the contents of this paper ; and of course no woman would think of breaking an oath made to a dying father! ShallI read the document aloud, Mrs. Conwey?” he added, turning to the widow. She bowed. ‘‘As you like,” she returned, quietly. ‘* Very well.” Gabriel Black drew a long breath of triumph, and began at Eomicbooks (ee) =)