A Final Triumph; or, A Lady Bachelor — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

STINGS. 121. gathered in a group, and, as Eloise passed, they tittered and made remarks. Poor Eloise! she read her approach- ing doom in these titters. She had taken to Miss Teft, and would have enjoyed being friends with her; but, alas! she knew that in a brief hour ‘‘ we girls’’ would circle around her and then — well, Eloise knew what would follow. She would be relegated to her pedestal, to stand and look on while the others frolicked and were happy. I am a face-student, dear reader, and | predicted other results. I saw that Miss T'eft was no mushroom society belle, but a genuine lady, one entitled to move on the upper battlement because of disposition, accomplishments, and personal attractions. She made Hloise her companion for the evening, but on the following day one of “‘ we girls ”’ managed to obtain an introduction. 1 was ever on the watch, and drew near to see the effect of the distillation of spite which I knew would overflow. For a few moments the conversation was general, but at length one of ‘* we girls ’’ slyly asked: ** Who introduced you to Miss Studevant?’’ ** Oh, what a delightful girl she is!”’ exclaimed Miss Teft. *“ Girl!’? came the exclamation in chorus. Miss Teft looked around on the eager faces—eager in their desire to pour forth their venom; and the most eager were the moon-faced daughters of Mrs. Eagle. ** She is not a married Jady, is she?’’ The girls laughed, and said: ‘** No; but she is old enough to have been married fif- teen years ago.”’ Eomichbooks (EO)