A Social Meteor — page 198: what you’re looking at

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

—_ 188 A SOCIAL METEOR. for.it, but it would come alone, unaccompanied by a word of any kind. “T would starve before I would go tovher,” she muttered, with clenched fists, “the harsh, unfor- giving little beast! How she would gloat if she knew my position. I only wish she were in my position and I in hers.” She sat a long time staring at the written words without seeing them, her mind full of melancholy thoughts. “Tf I could only get even with her for this. But a toad might just as well try to attack a star. I’m nothing in future but a poor outcast from society, hopeless and _ friendless, while she, through my own nonsensical management, will _ step right into my shoes and queen it in my stead. Oh, it’s too bitter! If I could only have anticipated events a little—and yet I might, I may—if I dared’’—she hesitated, and looked down. at the paper again with a halffrightened expression on her face, as if awed at the enor- mity of her own thoughts. “After all, why should I not? She did me a mean turn, and it’s probably my last chance. What if she found it out, though, and came tome? But she won’t if I play my cards well. It’s worth the risk at any Eomicboo cS (Eo)