Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 245: what you’re looking at

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

238 | A SEVERE THREAT. caught a glimpse of something hidden in the heart of the bou- quet, and, with trembling fingers, she drew forth a handsome diamond ring, attached to a slip of silky paper. : _- Paling and flushing by turns, Dot opened the paper and saw these words, written in a bold, decided hand : ‘¢Miss WYLDE: Will you accept this trifling gift, and with it the high- est appreciation and regard of one who begs to subscribe himself ‘Your friend, HALTON DEXTER ?”’ For a moment Dot stood, the hand holding the note pressed close to her heart, her eyes shining, her face lit up with pleasure. ‘‘T have found out his name,” she exclaimed ; ‘‘ but,” as her eyes fell on the ring, ‘‘I wish he had not sent me that! Any- body can give me a jewel ; but 4e ef She turned the ring over and over—a handsome solitaire ; she slipped it on her finger ; then, with a guilty blush, tore it off again, and hid it in her bosom. There was a rap at the door; it opened a few inches, and a blonde, frizzled head was thrust in. It was the soubrette of the _ company. | ‘* Dot,” she cried, gayly, ‘‘what are you mooning about in here alone? Come into the greenroom ; there is a gentleman there asking to see you.” And, wondering greatly, Dot complied. She found herself in the presence of a stranger—an elderly man, with an air of deep humility. ‘* Miss Wylde?” he interrogated. Dot bowed. ‘“‘Y am sent to you on a painful errand,” continued the stranger. ‘‘ Your friend, Miss Lola Gordon”—Dot started and turned pale—‘‘ just returned to Lcndon, has met with a serious accident, and lies very ill at the Denham House; she begs you to come to her at once. See; she managed to write this :” And he produced a card, upon which was feebly scrawled : ‘* Please come, dear Dot. Lo.ua.’’ _ Dot's sole answer was to turn toa chair beside her, upon which a cloak was lying. Then, suddenly remembering that she still wore her stage costume, she begged the messenger to wait a moment, and, hastening back to her dressing-room, changed her attire for the plain street suit which she had worn to the theater, tied on a hat and vail, and, returning, pro- nounced herselfready. = | Se : Eomichooks (E(@) =)