A Final Triumph; or, A Lady Bachelor — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

PENALTIES. 99 couragement, and she cruelly snubbed the fair girl who, in one sense, possessed those delightful traits of tempera- ment which the others lacked. Eloise was greatly disappointed in losing the friendship, without provocation, of her new acquaintance; but it seemed as though fate had decreed the exactment of the full penalties for her crime. ‘There were a hundred little snubs and rebuffs encountered which it is impossible to record; but they were a constant source of irritation, and one day, after encountering a singularly disagreeable rebuff, Eloise surprised her aunt, while the two were walk- ing alone together, with the startling announcement: ** Aunt, I think I shall marry.’ - The aunt stopped and gazed in startled amazement. Hitherto, Eloise had declared she would never marry; in- deed, she had expressed a desire to teach and settle down as a confirmed lady bachelor; her parents had dissuaded her, and protested that she should at least wait until she was older. Strange inconsistency, indeed! Wait until she was older in order to carry out one plan while she was paying the penalty of being too old in another direction. The aunt was the one who was responsible for the appear- ance of Eloise at the hotel; she was a pleasant, cheerful lady whose influence over the girl was great; and it was her persuasions that had induced our heroine to re-enter social life and seek to enjoy herself. We will admit that when once persuaded to make the attempt, Eloise found much comfort in prospect. She was naturally constituted for enjoyment, and time had softened the disappointment to that degree that made it possible for her to become in- Gomichbooks (EO)