Mrs. Bob: A Novel — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

84 THE MAN WHO WORE THE WHITE PRIMROSE. power, as the countenance of a handsome man is very apt to be. He pushes his way straight through the crowd, his eyes being riveted upon the trim little figure at the foot of the stairs, who awaits his coming with some- thing of nervousness, for Bob can see a small foot tapping upon the floor. Perhaps if Mr. Guy Livingstone could havea vague idea of what is in store for him, his haste would be somewhat toned down. Unfortunately for him, this knowledge is not in his power. Now he reaches the lower landing of the stairs, elevated nearly a foot from the floor. It is upon this the girl stands and waits the coming of her cavalier, waits for him as might one who expects a lover, and, apparently, sees nothing of the other who watches from a point near by, a look of pain on his face, lis whole soul in his eyes. Livingstone raises his hat, but in an off-hand man- ner that Bob cannot but notice. He fails to show the deep respect due a lady. This is one of the first results of that accursed note—her acceptance of his invitation to look upon the gay sights of Denver after dark, has already lowered Gypsy in the Virginian’s mind. 90 Bob grates his teeth and makes a motion with his hands as though wringing the neck of an obstrep- erous fowl. Beyond such pantomime gestures he can do nothing—the power to avenge the insult offered Gypsy Gordon has been taken from his hands by the appearance of that young woman on the scene—if she sees fit to accept the invitation of her cousin, and CEORMIE HOOKS. EO)