A Final Triumph; or, A Lady Bachelor — page 156: what you’re looking at

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

154 A LADY BACHELOR. corded with her style of beauty. Miss Slender and George were sitting together; the former beheld Eloise, and recog- nizing how beautiful she appeared and, observing the eyes of her companion fixed on her, she said: ** Well, I declare! there comes that spiteful old maid, Miss Studevant.”’ George fixed his eyes upon the speaker. ** Do you allude to Miss Studevant?’’ ** Yes; she is the laughing-stock of the hotel. ’’ ** How strange!” _ “ For gracious’ sake, do not go near her, or you will be tied down and bored for the whole evening. ’’ George did not speak in a severe tone; there was just a tinge of sarcasm in his voice as he said: ‘* Tf what you say is trne, the people in this hotel have — little appreciation of what is lovely in character and beau- tiful in person. Miss Studevant is my dearest friend. You will excuse me, 1 must go to greet her.” George rose, and crossing the room, offered his arm to Eloise. ‘The lovely girl accepted it with a smile. The whole scene was natural, and the self-possession and nat- uralness of both proclaimed the truth—they were old friends. It was a surprise to many, and really a gratifica- tion to *‘ we girls,” for Miss Slender had been matched from a quarter whence she least dreamed rivalry could come, My comedy was over. Eloise did have one night of tri- umph, but the first only of succeeding hours of happiness, subject to the usual discounts which are exacted from all mortals, while mortals we remain. cComicbooks com)