Stella Rosevelt — page 212: what you’re looking at

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

206 STAR’S DETERMINATION. after that. I called him a traitor and a coward, and then I ran away and came to you, who are the only friend I have in this wide, weary world.” ‘‘You did right, dear, to come to me; but were you nota trifle hasty and rash? I think you should have listened to young Sherbrooke’s—or whoever he may be—defense,” Mr. Rosevelt said, gently. ‘‘What possible defense could he have had to offer?” Star cried, in a voice of scorn. ‘‘ He has pretended to be Archibald Sherbrooke, a simple artist, to me, while everybody else knows him as Lord Carrol, of Carrolton.” ‘‘But he may have been traveling incognito under the former name,” suggested Mr. Rosevelt. ‘Then why did he not keep it to the end? Why did he go to a fashionable watering-place and flourish as a titled English- man, and devote himself to Josephine? Why did he resume the former name upon meeting me again, and lead me to love him, believing him to be a poor artist? No; there can be nothing said in defense of such double-dealing as this. He has cheated and fooled me. I have found him out, and com- pelled him to own it, It is enough to make me scorn him; but it has been a bitter lesson, and has taught me never to trust a man again,” Star concluded, with vehement bitterness. ‘‘Never, Star? Surely that acrimonious resolve does not in- clude me,” said Mr. Roseveit, with gentle reproach. ‘“No; I know that you are kind and true, and you are the only one in the world who cares for me,” the suffering girl said, in husky tones. ‘‘Indeed, my child, i have become very, dear to me, and my life would be very forlorn without you.” Star bent down and touched his hand with her lips. In her wretchedness it comforted her greatly to know that she had con- tributed to his happiness. ; ‘But I cannot get over what you have told me. I never am “ © GEomicbooks (Ele)