Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

15 ‘TF HE WERE TO DISAPPOINT MY HOPES!” CHAPTER II. ‘7 HE WERE TO DISAPPOINT int HOPES, I BELIEVE I WOULD DIE!’’ Florence withdrew her gaze from the leafless trees and frost-bitten flower-beds in the garden and threw herself, rather gracelessly, into a cushion at her sister’s feet. Then she took her needle and thimble out of the sewing basket near by and prepared to obey. ‘*Proceed,’’ uttered Rose, as a silence fell between them. ‘Oh, there are any quantity of men,’’ answered Flor- ence, carelessly. ‘‘Good, bad, and indifferent. Dolly knows heaps, she is so popular and in such demand. My life with her is one long, delicious dream,’’ she ended, rapturously. ‘*And who is your special admirer?’’ Florence dropped her eyes demurely. ‘Oh, it wouldn’t do to tell you yet,’’ she said. ‘‘Wait until the proper time comes.’’ ‘The proper time?’’ repeated Rose. ‘*Yes—until matters have progressed further between us.’’ ‘*But surely it wouldn’t do any harm to confide his name to me, dear,’’ urged the elder sister, steadily. ‘Perhaps not, after all,’’ responded Florence, reflective- ly. ‘“‘Where are the scissors? His name is Eldridge—Arthur Eldridge. ’’ Another pause. *‘And you think he cares for you?’’ asked Rose. ‘Dolly says she never saw aman so infatuated in. her life,’ answered Florence, promptly, with a touch of van- ity. Gomichbooks-com