A Final Triumph; or, A Lady Bachelor — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

120 A LADY BACHELOR. move. Indeed, they go around with a looking-glass in front of them, allegorically speaking—a glass which re- flects no image but theirown. They are old maids; they never dance, never laugh, only smile sneeringly; do not love music, save psalm tunes—in fact, they are old maids, and it’s a shame that the thousands of bright, bravee hearted girls, with all their attractions at twenty-eight and thirty, should be classed with these female ogresses—girls who are full of life and frolic, kindliness and gentleness- It is a shame, Eloise; there is no excuse for this social banishment. ‘T'here are those who say it does not exist. Well, they can not see it because they have never experi- enced it; but, alas! it is true, and to be eight-and-twenty and unmarried is to stand guilty of a social crime.’’ On the evening following the incidents recorded, there arrived at the hotel a regular society girl. She had a repu- tation for beauty ‘and accomplishments; she was good- hearted, also an independent creature, who had had a hun- dred offers, it was said, and socially she was “‘ to the manner born.’’ ‘This young lady was but two-and-twenty, tall and commanding in figure. She looked older, but she was one ef those dear girls who do not care about looks. She was ‘not handsome, but her changing expressions and wonder- ful animation made her exceedingly attractive. She was introduced to Eloise by the lady who had brought down her nephew to be the partner of our lady bachelor. She appeared to take an immediate liking to Eloise. Well, as this young lady—Miss Teft—had come heralded, all of ‘‘we girls ’’ were anxious to get acquainted, and seeing her with ‘‘ that woman ”’ made them envious, and they (EOLPMIC MOOLKS, (E@)