Stella Rosevelt — page 289: what you’re looking at

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

RESCUED FROM A HORRIBLE FATE. 283 fail to learn when they landed to whom the chairs and other comforts belonged. ‘She made a motion to Grace, who, she saw, was bristling with indignation, to keep silent; then she arose, bowing with graceful politeness to Mrs. Richards and her daughter, though her eyes were gleaming with suppressed laughter. ‘*T beg pardon if I have been occupying what does not right- fully belong to me, and I cheerfully resign my chair to your prior claim.” Josephine flushed, for she saw that it was all Star could-do to restrain her merriment, though what should have caused it she could not understand ; while she looked so pretty and was so lady-like, it made her angry. ‘‘T’m sure,” she began, hotly, and raising her voice so that others could hear her, ‘‘I don’t see what youre so amused over, Stella Gladstone; and it seems to me that you're putting on altogether too many airs for a girl who used to perform the services of a chambermaid in our house.” - For a moment Star stood as if dumfounded; then she lifted _ her bright head a trifle, as if in conscious superiority, gave Miss Richards a cool stare of surprise, and turned away with- out a word. Not so Miss Meredith, however. She kept her seat with the utmost composure, watching this little scene with both interest and amusement until Josephine so tauntingly insulted her friend. Then she, too, arose, drawing her tall form to its fullest height. : ‘‘T cannot understand,” she said,.in a voice of scorn, ‘‘ why you should so maliciously insult Miss Gladstone; but allow me to say for your enlightenment, that these chairs, rugs, and so ferth, belong to my brother, Mr. Ralph Meredith, and he arranged them here especially for~Miss Gladstone’s and my comfort. However, I will emulate her example, and resign =) (Ef) GbDooks (E(0) =}