Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 201: what you’re looking at

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

194 A SEVERE THREAT. deserted corridor—paused, in a very paroxysm of terror. The long hall ended in a retired nook, a bay-window of stained glass. The sunlight, straying through it, paved a pathway of scarlet, and purple, and orange upon the marble tiles of the floor ; about the window crimson damask curtains were draped, making a cozy hiding-place for any one who might choose to conceal themselves therein ; and as Sir John paused, his eyes fell upon a face peering at him from behind the heavy cur- tains. His eyes, staring straight before him, seemed riveted to the spot; his breath came in fitful gasps; his hands grew suddenly cold and clammy, and hung powerless at his side ; while a low moan issued from his pale lips. For he’saw be- fore him, gazing straight into his own white face, a pair of deep, dark eyes, a face of unearthly pallor, with waves of mid- night hair falling nearly to the floor—the form of a woman, delicate, graceful, ina flowing white robe. The baronet gazed as one fascinated, as though powerless to resist the wonderful, searching dark eyes which seemed to look through him ; then he turned away and buried his white face in his trembling hands. , : ‘« Stella !” he moaned, feebly; ‘‘Stella, why will you always haunt me?” The faint echo of a sigh fell upon the silence; then a voice whispered softly : ‘¢ Murderer, beware !” He started as though he had been struck. Those words had been Stella Gilroy's last. He sprang forward like a madman, and tore aside the crimson curtains, There was no one there! With a stifled cry, he darted away from the place, away from the house itself, out into the great, fragrant garden. Up and down he paced nervously in the sunshine—up and down, for an hour or more; then there came the sound of hurried foot- steps upon the garden-walk, and lifting his head, he saw stand- ing before him the nurse, Martha Winters. =) Gomicbooks.co