Roxy Hastings — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

a a ee Pee ed ee ee Ny ee ee ee ee . ar, | ‘ Ln ‘ + >) i > sy ~ i ~ail a Ms 5 a aw gy ae _ _~ pa ee Cae er Sees jee i mete eRe Sor ae eA it —<— . Me a: eS “ 14 | | ROXY HASTINGS. Laura’s descent in the social scale had cost her a lover—_ if he deserved the name—a young man of some fashion, and of a good family, who had all but proposed before her father’s misfortunes, and whom she was trying very hard to like, in compliance with the advice of her parents. But she did not mourn for Mr. Perth, of whose selfish- ness and insincerity, which she had before suspected, she now had such convincing proof. He was in truth a shallow coxcomb, though a prosperous business man, who spent money freely on himself in dress and personal decoration, but who, in all other respects was parsimonious, nay, almost miserly. It might not be too much to say that Laura’s escape from such a man more than compensated her for all the evils of her new lot. | Old Mr. Todd, the remaining member of this little house- hold, was a perfect gentleman in all respects but one; he was willing to work. He was anxious to work—at any- thing whatever that could assist the family, which, while in affluence, had supported him in ease and never. allowed him to feel his dependence. He had been a man of some note in his day, as a country editor and politician; had held some responsible public offices, and had come out of the political arena with unsul- lied reputation. He was now a white-haired, stoutish, slightly bent old man, with the mildest and most benevolent of faces, with mental powers scarcely impaired ; intelligent, witty, and altogether a most lively and agreeable companion. ~ He would be an ornament to any family,” his generous son-in-law used to say of him. “I do not consider him beholden to me. The obligation is quite on the other side.” Mrs. Lee adored her father, and loved her husband more for his generous treatment of one so dear to her. “I have been thinking what I can do,” said the old gen- tleman one morning, soon after they had moved into their new home; “I can keep a little news stand here on the corner, and sell the morning and evening papers.” “Father! You! You never shall do that. I will sew all my fingers off first.” “No, grandpa, I’m going to give music lessons,” said Laura, “and then we shall do very well.” 4 Yes, this is such a capital neighborhood to get pupils eS said the old man, ironically, ‘‘and you have so much eisure.’”’ 66 ] ’ 1 inc Well, I’m going to try, and Charley is expeching nro. _ (0) <