Stella Rosevelt — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

116 THE CAMEO RING. The month which the Richardses spent at Long Branch was an eventful one; it was the most brilliant season that Josephine had ever known. She had several offers of marriage, but refused them all, for her heart was set on becoming Lady Carrol, and going to alae among the nobility of England. When the time drew near for their departure, her heart beat high with hope; for Lord Carrol had lingered beyond the time he had intended to spend there, and she flattered herself that she was the cause of it. He certainly had shown her considerable attention, and it was rumored that there would be an engagement. He appeared to enjoy the society of both ladies, and although he had not committed himself in any way, he had accepted an invitation to visit them at their country-seat the second week in October, and both Josephine and her mother were hoping much from that event. The last evening of their sojourn at Long Branch, Miss Richards descended to the veranda of the hotel, dressed with the utmost care and taste. ) Her robe was of creamy white silk, with an overdress of filmy black Jace, looped with crimson fuchsias. There were diamonds in her ears, her hair, and clasped about her neck and arms; but they were not brighter than her midnight eyes, which glowed with hope and love, while her smiling lips vied with the flowers which she wore. She was brilliantly, dazzlingly beautiful. The men watched her every movement with admiring glances; the women could but acknowledge her superior charms, yet with something of a feeling of envy on account of the prize they believed she was about to bear away with her. Lord Carrol seemed drawn to her as the needle to the pole. He had been sitting at one end of the veranda when she came down, but he almost immediately arose and went to her side, <t . Eomicbooks.¢o