Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

THE YOUNG WIDOW. 51 her grief. She must leave the house at once and get away, anywhere, to be alone. But first she must have proof that Dolly’s words were true. ‘The letter?’’ she whispered. | Dolly went to her desk, returning with it in her hand. ‘‘Here it is,’’ she said, simply. Rose fingered it nervously, dreading to open it. Yet she must. So setting her teeth tightly togather, she drew it from the envelope and read: ‘*ETRURIA, In the Narrows, May 12th. ‘‘DeAR DoLLy:—The heading of this letter may surprise you, but I do not believe you will be greatly astonished to learn that I have decided to leavs my home and my sister forever. Events have proved too much for me here, and so I think I will try my luck on the other side of the water. As I write I can almost see your horrified expression when I confide to you that I am traveling under the kind protec- tion of Mr. Orlando, whose admiration for me you so often ridiculed. But do not be disgusted—I am not eloping with him. He gave me the names of some young girls whom he intended taking abroad this summer to study for the stage, and after a little coaxing on his part, I determined to join them. “T may return to my native land a great star—or a dis- mal failure; 1 consider the chances about even. Butin any case, trust me to do the best I can for myself. ‘‘Good-by for the present. ‘““Yours, as 9ver, ‘“HLORENCE. ”’ Rose read it over twice, from beginning to end, her feat- ures like marble. Then she covered her face with her hands, and a deep, shuddering moan, like that of an ani- mal wounded unto death, shook her whole form. Dolly did not know what to say or do. She sat motion- Gomichbookssco im