Stella Rosevelt — page 308: what you’re looking at

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

302 A NOBLE RESOLUTION. Both saw at a glance that the interview had been a sorrowful one, and Miss Meredith was bitterly disappointed, for she had trusted that Ralph would be able to win the bright, beautiful cirl for his wife. Mr. Rosevelt surmised the cause of Star’s rejection of his suit, and sighed heavily, for the young man had been a favorite with him, and he would have been glad to give her to him. But he would never try to influence her upon matters of such a delicate nature. She should always do exactly as she liked, and he knew that whoever her choice might be, it would never be an unworthy one. They parted at the door of the hotel, Ralph bidding them -good-by there, as he was to leave early in the morning, and Star knew by the way he wrung her hand that he was bidding farewell to hope as well. When they reached their private parler, she went directly to Mr. Rosevelt’s side and laid her hand upon his arm. Her face was flushed and sad, and he saw at once that she was very unhappy. ‘‘What is it, my starling?” he asked, taking her hand in both of his, and speaking very tenderly. ‘Uncle Jacob, I want to go home,” she said, wearily. ‘Bless you, child! you shall go wherever you like,” he said, in surprise, and regarding her anxiously. ‘‘] want to go where you and I can be by piladives and where I cannot do any mischief,” she said, with a sob of pain, and he knew beyond a doubt that Ralph Meredith had pro- posed and been rejected. ‘Mischief! tut, tut, little one! What has made you so un- happy? Have you sent our young friend away in sorrow?” Star nodded her head in reply; she could not find voice to answer him. ‘He is a fine young man—he is a wor/hy young man,” Mr. - Rosevelt said, gently. (eo) com Eboo S