Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 188: what you’re looking at

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

“WHERE CAN SHE BE ?” 179 after some difficulty, I managed to force her to give mea clew as to your whereabouts. The contemptible little creat- ure was quite loath to do so, at first, but I finally succeeded in inducing her to think that it was her duty to do so. ‘Discovering that you had gone to Europe in company with acommon singing master, I made sacrifices which you can never understand to follow and save you, if possible.’’ ‘“‘To save me—from what?”? demanded the actress, with a cold glitter in her eyes. ‘‘Itis really most flattering to learn that one is soimportant as you are making me out to be.’’ ‘‘Can you ask? From the life you are leading. You must have been blind—mad, when you undertook to go on the stage.’’ ‘Pardon me if [ remind you that I was old enough to decide what kind of a career would suit me best,’’ returned the younger sister, arching her brows, ‘‘and we were not so wealthy that earning my own livelihood was not to be considered. Besides, we had no ties; there was nothing but your presence to keep me at home, and now I am inde- pendent of everybody——’’ ‘‘How fortunate!’’ uttered Rose, with suspicious calm- ness. ‘‘____s0 you see, perhaps I did not make such a serious mistake in behaving as I did, after all,’’ finished Florence. ‘Tt undoubtedly was a great thing for you,’’ observed Rose, in the same hard tone. ‘‘If our parents were only alive to witness your successes—to meet your friends—how gratified they would be!’’ The actress was brave enough usually, but she grew un- - comfortable now, and the old fear of her sister’s displeas- ure returned to her in full force. She realized that there GOomichbookssco im