A Final Triumph; or, A Lady Bachelor — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

PENALTIES. 102 thing lL say or do. When Iam introduced to strangers, I tremble, and a cold chill runs through me; their first. greeting smile, 1 know, will soon be supplemented with a sneer of contempt and distrust, because I am eight-and- twenty, and said to be older. I have no right to partici- pate in any of the enjoyments of young people, unless I am prepared to force myself forward regardless of all oppo- sition and attempts to put medown. As I said, you are not blind. Here, night after night, you’ve seen some young gentleman ask me to dance. You know I do not seek the invitation. Well, I dance, and immediately after some spiteful, long-waisted or short-waisted minx drags. the gentleman into a corner, and at once I encounter a glance indicating that I’ve practiced a fraud on him. I may be putting it in glowing colors, but in plain language what I say is the truth. Yes, auntie, if I seek to partici- pate in the simplest diversion, Ido so under the imputa- tion of being a social fraud. Now, then, if I become a disagreeable, spiteful, sneering woman, I will make friends. I can not be agreeable and do so; or if I marry an idiot or some old doting widower, I will be received with Open arms. Society, strange as if may seem, demands ' one sacrifice or the other ; but it will not tolerate any at- tractiveness in a girl of eight-and-twenty. The mammas revile such a designing vixen, and the daughters actually insult her. ’’ Eloise became quite vehement as in passionate tones, for the first time, she poured forth her plaint. Her aunt felt real sympathy, but what could she say to soothe her lovely niece? Had not the girl told the truth? She had. lt is Gomichbooks (E@)