Gratia's Trials — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

GRATIA’'S TRIALS, 99 it should not again occur. His brow clouded darkly at this evidence of his niece’s duplicity. ‘*T will call at Scheik & Maurice’s to-morrow,” he said. The clerk bowed and withdrew. ‘* A nice set of harpies are these who would fain prey upon me!” said he, walking irritably up and down the room. ‘“ De- ceit, double-dealing, and a rapacity which grows in proportion to what it feeds on. Were la poor man, they would not so much as give me the crumbs that fell from their table, and yet they imagine I am fool enough not to penetrate their shallow: hypocrisy. But I believe I shall manage to outwit them all yet. It is only making up my mind to a decisive step a little sooner than I should otherwise have done. I was resolved beforc, now the resolution is sealed.” He rang the bell shortly. Scipio came to the door. ‘‘ Ask Miss Gratia if she will be so kind as to come to me a few minutes in the library.” Scipio walked gravely away. Mr. Miller stood gazing into the fire. ‘‘Tt may as well be nowas ever,” he said to himself. ‘‘] wonder what she will say.” Mrs. Falconer’s heart beat high with gratification as from the room beyond she heard the message given by Scipio to the young girl who was, metaphorically speaking, the thorn in her side. | “Really,” she whispered to Alberta. ‘‘I didn’t expect such good luck. ~He told me he would speak to her, but I never thought he would act so promptly on my advice. But Ralph has a deal of solid, practical good sense, if only he chooses to use it.” — 5 : ‘‘You sent for me, sir?” said Gratia, as she came into the library. ‘*T did send for you, Gratia, said Mr. Miller, moving’ for- _ ward a chair, which Gratia declined by a negative motion of her head, ‘‘I am going to astonish you very much.” “a (e(ol anil ovexe) <S (Ele) in