Gratia's Trials — page 97: what you’re looking at

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

88 - QRATIA'S TRIALS. “¢T shouldn’t be here if I could go into the ball-room and dance,” said Ida. ‘‘See, Uncle Raph! Doesn't Gratia look beautiful ? Why don't you go in and ask her to dance? Do, Uncle Ralph.” 2 ~ © Do you suppose she would leave all het gay young cavaliers to dance with a grim old bachelor like me, Puss?” demanded Mr. Miller. ‘‘T know she would,” nodded Ida; ‘‘ because she likes you. I’ve heard her say so,” Mr. Miller puffed silently away, but he was not displeased at Ida’s mazve speech, that was quite evident. ** Please, Uncle Ralph,” coaxed the child. ‘*No, Puss, I’m too old and stout for that sort of thing,” said he, laughing. ‘* But perhaps I'll take you girls for a nice long drive to-morrow, to take off the stamp of late hours. Carry your little lady. off to bed now, Louisette; she has been up long enough.” So Ida was borne off, vainly pleading for ‘‘just one little minute longer.” CHAPTER XVIL DOMESTIC DISSENSIONS. But the cup of Gratia’s social triumph was not destined to be entirely unmixed with the gall of bitterness. The girls were out bathing one lovely morning. Ida in the charge of Louisette, who was a most careful and responsible “woman, and Gratia and Alberta together. Miss Falconer did not like sea bathing, but she participated in it, simply because it was the fashion. ‘*One looks like a fright in these hideous straw-flats and oil- skin night-caps, and the figure of Venus de Medici herself would be swallowed up in a plaid flannel bathing suit.” ‘‘Oh, Alberta, said Gratia, innocently, ‘‘it is the most de- im GComicbooks:. ce