Roxy Hastings — page 210: what you’re looking at

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

ROXY HASTINGS. 201 “It is really quite delightful,” he said, “to see you all back in this part of the city again. We have missed you —oh, prodigiously.” 6s Ah Es “*Yes—Sister Elvina and I especially.” “We have not been very far.” “No? We heard that you had gone—or—or were going out of town. I—I tried tolook you up several times, but did not quite succeed in finding you.” ‘‘I am sorry you had so much trouble.” “Oh, no trouble. Quite a pleasure, I assure you.” * Charles spoke of meeting you quite often.” Isaac colored a little and said that he believed he had met him a few times in business hours. “A terrible driving time we’ve had at the store, Miss Lee,” he continued. ‘‘You can’t imagine how busy we have been. It quite drives everything out of one’s head.” ‘“‘I should suppose so,” Laura said, quietly, but as there was nothing in her voice or manner to give any emphasis to these words, Mr. Perth accepted them as an assent to his remark. “It seems quite like old times again, now, doesn’t it?” the beau continued, venturing to take a seat a little nearer to his charmer. _“T find many changes,” Laura replied. ‘You will find no change in me, Miss Lee,” said the smirking lover. “Iam happy to assure you that my re- gard for you is unalterable, and—and that Iam here to- night to offer you my hand and heart.” But Isaac looked in vain for the signs of ecstatic joy with which he had fully expected this declaration to be received. He attempted to take Laura’s hand, but it was quickly withdrawn, and she replied, calmly : “T have thought it right to give you this opportunity to declare your sentiments, which in everything but words you have long ago expressed—” “Yes—yes.”’ “There was a time when I should have listened favor- ably to such a declaration—” ‘““Wasatime! Good heavens! You don’t mean to say, Miss Lee—” “T mean to say that it is too late, Mr. Perth. We can henceforth be nothing more than friends to each other, and I fear scarcely that.” “Why, Miss Lee! You cannot mean it, or—or. you will surely think better of it.” | eoim (9) books (E(0)