Stella Rosevelt — page 196: what you’re looking at

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

190 MALICIOUS FALSEHOODS. She kept cn her way until she came out by the lodge, where she saw John Mellen, who was both gardener and porter, sitting upon the porch. He looked greatly surprised as the light from the lantern at the gate fell upon her face. ‘‘Is anything the matter, marm?” he asked, touching his hat respect/ully, but wondering to see her there at that hour, with no wrap, while he noticed that she was very pale. ‘“No, John; but have you seen anything of Miss Gladstone?” she asked. ‘Yes, marm; she came running down here about half an hour ago, looking like a wraith, and bounded up stairs likea fawn, to the old gentleman’s room,” he answered. ‘‘Is she there now?” Mrs. Richards demanded, quickly, her lips settling down into a hard, straight line. ‘« Yes m—leastways, I’ve not seen her come down yet.” The woman bent her head in thought a moment, then briefly remarked: *«T think [ll go up.” _ Gathering her rustling skirts in her hand, she passed inside the lodge, mounted the stairs with a noiseless tread, and paused before Mr. Rosevelt’s door. Bending close to the keyhole, she heard sounds of sobbing, mingled with low, soothing words spoken by her uncle. She softly opened the door, and standing upon the threshold, her face grew dark and wrathful at the picture which she saw within the room. Mr. Rosevelt sat in his arm-chair by the table which stood between the two windows of his room, while Star knelt upon the floor at his side, her golden head bowed upon the arm of his chair, sobbing as if her heart was breaking. The old gentleman had laid one hand upon her bright head, and was soothing it gently as he tried to quiet her with low, fond words. Gomilebooks,.