Stella Rosevelt — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

FILTHY LUCRE. 105 ‘Never mind me, Ellen. Mrs. Mellen seems very kindly disposed, and will, no doubt, do all that is necessary for me. I am sorry to be a burden to you in my misfortune, but you have always been so kind to me, urging me so cordially to come to you at any time, that I thought you would be glad to see your old uncle under any circumstances,’ the old man said, regard- ing her closely while he was speaking. ‘‘T hope you will soon be better,” Mrs. Richards returned, evasively. She did not think it necessary to tell him that he was no burden, or to say anything to make him feel comfortable and at ease in his trying situation. She was so deeply disappointed and chagrined on account of the loss of his fortune, and consequently of her share of his million, that it was impossible not to betray something of her feelings. ‘Thank you,” he returned, coldly. ‘‘Do not allow my con- dition to cause you any anxiety. lam very comfortable. It is very quiet here, and I shall doubtless do very well.” ‘‘Yes; you w/ be more quiet here than up at the house, where there are so many people and.so much going on,” she replied, eagerly seizing this pretext for keeping him where he was. ‘‘And,” she added, ‘‘if you need anything, Mrs. Mellen can attend to all your wants.” After a few more commonplace remarks, she took her de- parture, feeling quite relieved to have him so easily disposed of. She had nothing to gain now by fawning and flattery, and since his gold was gone, he was no more to her than any other - feeble old man, and it would not pay even to pretend what she did not feel. | As she went rustling out of the room and down stairs in her rich attire, her aged and dependent relative lay back in his chair, with a darkening brow and a pale, pained face. ‘‘Money! money!. money!” he muttered. ‘‘No one is of Gomichbooks c=) @ (E(0)