Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 176: what you’re looking at

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

FLORINE. "167 tion of beauties. To which particular one do you refer, however?”’ She held the picture toward him. It represented a young girl in the character of ‘‘La Mascotte,’’ with a big straw hat thrown back off her laughing face, and her arms full of sheaves. Her attitude was full of graceful abandon, and the parted lips smiled from the cardboard with the inno- cent boldness of a child. ‘*Oh, that is Florine!”’ ‘Thanks, that tells meso much,’ returned Gertrude, pertly, still gazing at the likeness. ‘Florine is a little artist who had no end of success in Paris last season and is now at Monte Carlo. I heard her when I was in Paris and bought the photograph. She sings well and looks better,’’ explained Mr. Forrest. ‘*You say she is at Monte Carlo now?’’ ‘‘Yes, and, by the way, she’s an American by birth.”’ At these words Miss Cameron approached and glanced at the picture. ‘‘What ails you, Miss Cameron?”’ cried Gertrude, as her companion turned white and almost fell into a chair. ‘Quick! Dick, Arthur, a glass of wine!”’ “Tt is nothing,’’ murmured Miss Cameron. ‘‘I am only a little faint. I shall be better directly. See, I am all right now,’’ and she tried to smile, as one held a glass of sherry to her lips and the other ran for salts. ‘“‘Please do not alarm yourselves, I am subject to attacks of this kind, especially in warm weather. There, you see, Il am quite myself again.’’ And to prove it, she arose and resumed her seat at the piano. It was nearly three o’clock, and as the carriage had been im Eo AMIE KOOKS, (eO)