Stella Rosevelt — page 128: what you’re looking at

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

122 THE CAMEO RING. She remembered how, when she had asked her to give it to her, Star’s lips had trembled as she said ‘‘it was the gift of a friend and she did not like to part with it;” but she never imagined that the associate of a peer would take interest enough in a girl occupying the position she occupied to give her so costly an ornament as this. The thought was nota pleasant one, or it told her that if such was the case, and there could be no doubt of it, that Star was known and appreciated by one whom this English lord held in high esteem. She would have liked to question him more about this “friend” of his, but did not wisH to betray too much curiosity lest he should mistrust that she had the identical stone which he referred to, and should in turn ask unpleasant questions of her. She therefore changed the subject as quickly as possible, hoping to win him to a mood more congenial with her own feelings and desires. But her efforts proved unavailing, for his lordship had sud- denly become thoughtful and taciturn; and Miss Richards at last, berating herself soundly for having worn that unlucky ring that evening, signified her desire to return to the hotel. Mrs. Richards had watched them saunter from the veranda in a flutter of anticipation, hoping that the all-important mo- ment had at last arrived. But one glance at her daughter's face when they came back told her that the much wished for crisis had mo/ arrived, and she felt deeply disappointed. ‘‘Good-night and good-by !” Josephine said, holding out her white hand to her companion as they entered the hotel. She could not trust herself longer in his society, lest she should betray something of her disappointment and ill-nature. ‘‘I “must say my farewell now, I suppose, since we are to leave by the early train to-morrow.” comilcbooks: