Stella Rosevelt — page 200: what you’re looking at

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

194 MALICIOUS FALSEHOODS. cause very much by taking up weapons against me for her,” snapped his niece, vindictively, and with a glance of dislike at Star. ‘‘Saved your life!” she continued, sarcastically. ‘*‘ Well, perhaps, she did; but, in my opinion, that is all sentimental eush, for she is an artful jade, and has doubtless palavered and cooed over you until she has pulled the wool over your eyes in fine shape.” | ‘‘What could have been her object, Ellen?” asked the old gentleman, dryly. ‘‘Certainly not the expectation of getting any portion of my fortune, since appearances must have indi- cated to her as well as to you that I had nothing to give her. If she had known me, and done all this when Z was considered rich, there might possibly be some reason in your accusations. ” This shaft told keenly, for his niece colored guiltily to the roots of her hair. ‘‘ Your irony is ill-timed, it appears to me, Uncle Jacob,” she said, sullenly, ‘‘especially as you are indebted to me for the bare necessaries of life, not to speak of its comforts.” ‘‘Indebted to you, am I, Ellen? I do not believe in re- criminations, but allow me to ask, do you know the cost of those diamonds which you have on, and have you forgotten where you got them?” Mrs. Richards’ brilliant color forsook her in an instant, and she became as white as the mass of snowy lace which rose and fell with the angry pulsation of her heart. Her passionate temper prompted her to tear those flashing stones from her person and cast them in the face of her accuser; but her pride and avarice were the strongest attributes of her nature, and knowing that she would not be likely to have them replaced, she refrained from so rash an act. ‘‘I do not begrudge you your jewels, Ellen,” Mr. Rosevelt ‘continued, more gently, perceiving how keeniy she felt his re- proof, ‘‘but when you twit me of being indebted to you for the simple necessaries of life, it is rather more than I can tamely GEomichbooks. Go