Stella Rosevelt — page 275: what you’re looking at

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

| “WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?” | 269 Her back was turned toward them, and they could not judge. of her beauty; but they saw a tall, willowy figure in trailing robes of exceeding richness, a stately head crowned with golden hair, and there was a familiar something about the fair stranger which made both mother and daughter look more closely, while their eyes were filled with anxious foreboding. ‘She is elegantly dressed, I must confess,” Josephine said, putting up her glass to get a better view of the ‘* belle of the evening ;” ‘‘and, mamma,” she added, in a lower tone, “’ is it my imagination, or zs there something really familiar in that fivure? Can it be Stella?” ‘‘Impossible! What could have put such a foolish notion into your head? Where under heavens could she get money enough to flourish in such style?” Mrs. Richards retorted, im- patiently. ‘‘But if she is really the author of the book—it has been very popular, you know s ‘‘Nonsense!” interrupted her mother. ‘‘I tell you sucha thing could not be possible.” Nevertheless, Mrs. Richards was closely watching the object of their conversation, and her heart was beating with a painful throk, for the young girl did strangely resemble that poor orphan whom she had so despised and ill-treated, and who had fled from her tyranny. But her uneasiness increased, for just now she observed a tall, white-haired gentleman moving toward the girl, and upon reaching her side, he bent down and spoke a few words in her ear. His back also was toward them, but the matron’s face was dark with trouble; she grew white with the sudden fear which possessed her, and she moved forward to get a better view of the couple. ; At that instant Star turned and lifted her bright face to reply to Mr. Rosevelt, who had left his position by the stand of Gomichbooks (E(0)