Gratia's Trials — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

94 : - GRATIA’S TRIALS, CHAPTER XVIII. UNCLE RALPH INTERFERES. Mr. Ralph Miller’s city residence on Fifth avenue, which Miss Falconer called by a species of poetical license ‘‘our own home,” was a superb brown-stone mansion in the center of one of the most imposing blocks on the avenue—a place splendid beyond Gratia’s most exalted anticipations. | For Mr. Miller was rich, and wealth, as we all know, can command everything—but happiness. But Uncle Ralph was _ happy, too, in-his odd, cynical sort of way. He tolerated Mrs. Falconer simply because she was his sister; he despised Alberta’s schemes and maneuverings, which were entirely trans- parent to him, and he disliked Robert’s indolence and dissi- pated habits with equal heartiness. He was fond of Colonel Falconer, who, at he was wont to say, ‘‘was the only one of the tribe worth ’a copper ;” and little Ida was the darling of his heart. ) To Gratia this new life was fascinating beyond description— the drives among the autumn glories of the Central Park, the morning saunterings among the dazzling bazaars on Broadway, and afternoon lingerings among picture-galleries and artists’ studios, the rounds of visits, in which Ida and Uncle Ralph both insisted on Gratia being included. In the meantime, she did not neglect her opportunities, She read a certain number of hours every day, for she was resolved to cultivate, as much as possible, the treasures of her brain and her intellect. She practiced diligently, under the instruction of Ida’s music teacher, and devoted herself enthusiastically to the study of the French and German languages. ‘Very sensible, I am sure,” said Alberta, shrugging her cComicbooks.com —