A Final Triumph; or, A Lady Bachelor — page 124: what you’re looking at

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

122 A LADY BACHELOR. ‘* It’s possible she didn’t desire to marry.’ ** It’s more possible she couldn’t,’’ said the eldest moon- face. ‘* She is a lovely girl, a beautiful girl!’’ protested Miss Teft. ‘* Well, I don’t see where her beauty is. Of course, she looks well. Oh, certainly, any one can who knows how.’’ ** Knows how to do what?’” demanded Miss Teft, sharply. ** To paint,’’ came the brazen answer. At that moment Eloise appeared, returning from a walk, and Miss Teft said, ‘‘ Excuse me;’’ and she ran down the piazza and greeted Eloise with a kiss, and 1 men- tally exclaimed: ** God bless that angel! What a heaven this world would be if ‘there were thousands of such just and kindly girls, Jacking envy and possessing such nice discrimination.’ ** We girls’? were taken all aback, as the vulgarism puts it. They dared not antagonize Miss Teft; her social position was too commanding, and she was not twenty-two, and not to be crushed. But ‘* we girls ”’ did give expres- sion to spiteful remarks which were wicked. A few days passed, and as Miss Teft recognized Eloise and clung to her, the brazen-faced ** we girls ’’ actually deigned to tolerate her, but they did it in a spirit of self- interest. Miss Teft was a fine piano-player, and also possessed a fair voice. She played and sung, and the people went in ecstasies over her performance. Eloise stood over her, and Miss Teft asked: ** Do you play?’’ Gomichbooks (EO)