Bonny Jean, and A Severe Threat — page 256: what you’re looking at

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

A SEVERE THREAT. 249 CHAPTER XXXVI. AT LAST. ‘Kittie, what can I say to you, my poor wronged friend? Will you believe me when I tell you—God knows that it is true —that I never meant to wrong you in any way ?” Howard Ashleigh’s face was very pale and grave as he uttered these words, his dark eyes upon Kittie Dexter’s white face. She bowed her head. ‘*You are exonerated from any intentional wrong, Mr. Ashleigh,” she returned. ‘‘I do not attempt to imply that my life is not saddened—that I have not received a fearful wound; but all wounds heal with time, you know, and I shall not die, because strength to bear will be given me. God bless you, my friend, and—and—Geraldine !” Kittie laid her little hand in his. I know not how she con- trolled herself to meet Geraldine; but she did, and greeted her with kindliness, and the day eventually came when the two were firm friends. 7 ‘The day arrived for the trial of Sir John Sydney. There was such overwhelming evidence against him that no one believed that he would escape with less than capital punishment. On the morning of the eventful day Lionel Vernon called at the prison to see the baronet. He was admitted, and a long con- ference ensued. He came forth pale and agitated, and a rumor crept abroad that at the very last moment he had quar- reled with his friend, the prisoner. The trial progressed. Little new evidence was brought for- ward ; but every one saw that the case was going dead against him from the first. When Lola was giving her evidence over again, as required by the court, he seemed unable to control his anger, and as he listened again to the fearful testimony of his own child, he foamed at the mouth like a wild beast. ‘‘It isa lie!” he hissed, infuriated at her wcrds—‘‘a false, wicked invention, and she knows it! Furthermore, she knows that I never married Stella Gilroy. Look in the record in St. Stephen’s church, Greenfields, and if you find there is such an entry, I am willing to meet a felon’s fate. Where is the record of a marriage between John Gordon and Stella Gilroy? I de- mand it.” Gomichooks (e(o) a)