Stella Rosevelt — page 286: what you’re looking at

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

280 RESCUED FROM A HORRIBLE FATE. and among them several eligible young gentlemen, whose ac- quaintance, for Josephine’s sake, she was desirous of cultivating ; and surely she was not going to sacrifice all these advantages, and leave the field clear for Star to win even greater victories. No; she would stay, and she resolved she would make things just as uncomfortable for the young girl as possible, while Jose- phine should be made to shine with all the splendor of which ‘their means, and Mr. Richards’ credit, were capable. But all the proud woman’s efforts were of no avail, for our fair heroine had created a sensation which threatened to turn the heads and lead captive the hearts of every unmarried man, at least, in Newport A week passed quickly by, and then Grace Meredith and her brother arrived at the watering-place, and immediately attached themselves to Mr. Rosevelt and Star by mutual consent; and many envious looks were bestowed upon the dark, handsome stranger, who appeared to assume the right of acting as escort to the two beautiful girls upon every occasion. But Star, whenever she appeared in company, laughed, chatted, and danced with all that was possible of her admirers, dispensing her smiles and favors with an impartiality that was exasperating not only to her victims—if such they could be called who were each anxious to win the prize—-but also to the many forlorn damsels who were all sighing for the attentions she was receiving and the honors she was usurping. One day, about a week after the arrival of the Merediths, an - excursion was arranged to visit a point on Narragansett Bay, and it was to bea picnic after the good old-fashioned style of carrying each his own basket and sharing with his neighbor. A boat had been chartered to take the party down the bay in the morning and return at night by moonlight. Ralph Meredith and two or three of his friends were the originators of the affair, and the invitations were very select, and limited to one hundred. ecomicbooks. co