A Final Triumph; or, A Lady Bachelor — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

THE SUGGESTION OF A CRIME. eth? > her pounce down with distended talons and strike the fatal blow. lt was evening; we were in the parlor; my little heroine entered, the eagle-faced woman glanced at her through her lorgnette. There were several people sitting around; my eyes were fixed upon the vulture. I did not know that she was preparing to strike when I saw her eye- brows elevate, beheld the corners of her mouth droop, and witnessed the sneering expression that settled on her com- mon face. This woman possessed a certain social distinction —money maintained her position, nothing else. There are many of her species in our social circles, and she possessed a power. She spoke; J heard her words; I will not repeat them now—later I will. I knew at once that they would fall like a frost on the popularity of my little ideal, and they did. ‘Their effect was immediate, and again I be- came a witness of the cruel and politic readiness of young girls in social life. The young ladies had lovingly clung to my little heroine, rivaling one another in their eager- ness, and yet within an hour after the cruel betrayal of the eagle-faced woman they as coolly changed in their demeanor as the attendants around the couch of a dying king. The fact declared in the fatal words went quickly in whispers around the hotel, and later I beheld whispering groups, and my idol] was deserted. ‘T'hose who, a little before, had encircled her with their loving arms passed her by in cold disdain, and she who had been so popular was permitted, during the advancing days, to wander silently with her companion to and fro on the piazzas, unnoticed save by glanees of aversion and contempt; the face which had been pronounced beautiful was suddenly discovered to be ex- Gomichbooks