Stella Rosevelt — page 199: what you’re looking at

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

MALICIOUS FALSEHOODS. 193 zllusion to Star, fur upon her defenseless head she felt free to relieve herself. ‘‘No; she has never complained—she has even tried to con- ceal your treatment of her—but I have eyes ard can see for myself, and it has been patent to me how her young heart has been starved, how every bright and enjoyab’e thing has been crushed out of her life. I know how she has had to do battle for even her education, and that you would have made a drudge and a slave of her, had you dared and your husband allowed you to do it. It is disgraceful, Ellen, for you to treat your cousin's child in such a manner, when you owe so much to her mother « ‘‘How do you know?) “hs has been telling you all this? Iam out of all patience!” Mrs. Richards interrupted, passion- ately. ‘* Everybody is continually throwing at me the fact that Anna Chudleigh once saved my life. Hundreds of people have saved une lives of others and considered it their duty to have done so. If I was drowning and Anna saw me, it was natural for her—it delonged to her to save me if she could, as I should have done, no doubt, had the circumstances been reversed.” ‘*True; but this view of the case does not lessen your ob- ligation, cr license you to abuse the trust that has been com- mitted to you,” Mr. Rosevelt answered, sternly. ‘* You bound yourself to this child’s dying father to ‘do the best you could for her,’ to give her a home, and see that her education was properly attended to, and you owed it to him and to her to keep your promise. ” ‘*T owed ner nothing,” cried the enraged woman, losing all control of herself; ‘‘and you, Uncle Jacob, are overstepping all bounds by interfering with what is none of ycur business,” ‘*The girl saved my life almost at the sacrifice of her own, bs and I shall make it my business to do what I can for her while I — live,” Mr. Rosevelt answered, with dignity. | ‘* Well, you will find, I reckon, that you have not helped her Gomichbooks: =}