Gratia's Trials — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

GRATIA’S TRIALS. 103 ‘‘What she says is quite true,” she said, gently; ‘‘and it- should not anger you any more than it doesme. Thank you for your congratulations, Alberta. May I go up stairs now, sir?” to Mr. Miller. ‘‘Iam so bewildered and taken by sur- prise, that my head begins to ache a little, and I would prefer to spend the rest of the evening alone.” Ralph Miller led her to the door, and dismissed her with a smile and a gentle word, and when she was gone, he turned to the amazed circle in the drawing-room. ‘‘T have but one word to say to you all,” he said, uncon- sciously pressing the little hand that Ida stole into his. ‘Mrs. Ralph Miller cannot possibly be more worthy of respect and esteem than was Gratia Kempfield, but she will have this advantage: JZ shall exact it in her behalf. Any one who ven- tures hereafter to annoy or insult her is no longer a member of my household.” And Uncle Ralph went back to his library, He met Scipio in the hall. ‘Just comin’ to look for you, massa,” said the black man, ‘Telegram come—man’s a-waitin’ for answer. ” And he placed a sealed envelope in his master’s hand. Mr. Miller’s face instinctively fell as he perused its contents— it was a summons to proceed at once to Boston, where affairs intimately connected with his banking business would require his presence for three days at least. ‘¢ How provoking!” muttered Mr. Miller to himself. ‘‘ Why could not these tangles happen when Hugo is at home? Well, after all, it might be worse. Three or four days are not three or four weeks, and just as soon as I return, the preparations for my marriage shall be hurried on at once.” And Gratia Kempfield, sitting up stairs in her room, vainly trying to realize in her own mind the splendor of the tide of good fortune that was rolling toward her, received a note from her affianced husband, solemnly delivered by the hand of Scipio, half an hour later. , Eomichooks (E(e) im