Stella Rosevelt — page 158: what you’re looking at

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

152 A FATAL MISTAKE. and taunts, and perhaps more unkindness than she had ever yet received from Mrs. Richards or Josephine. Mr. Richards, she felt assured, would be more considerate of her feelings; yet, under any circumstances, this visit of her lover would be a very trying one. Ah! ow trying, Heaven only knew. She thought perhaps she ought to tell him something of her life during the last year, that he might not be wholly unpre- pared when he should present his suit for what she feared would be a very disagreeable interview. But she was so supremely happy sitting there by his side in the glorious moonlight, and knowing that she was so tender|l beloved, that she could not bear to mar it by so much asa word or thought of what she had suffered in the past, or might have to endure in the future, until he should come for her to claim her as his wife. No, she would not tell him; she would wait until after he had been presented to her guardians. There would be time enough then, and it would be just as well. But it was a fatal mistake. Had she told him then, all the pain and anguish, all the misery and hopelessness which she afterward experienced would have been spared her; but how could she know? So they sailed on up the river, side by side, hand clasped in hand, and thought only of the supreme happiness of the moment. - It was one of those beautiful fall evenings, calm and still, and bright with an almost intoxicating brilliancy; the heavens, the river, with its gliding banks on either side, all lighted with a radiance that was absolutely dazzling; and Star wondered if ever in all her life before she had seen the world se wondrously beautiful. ‘‘ Monday or Tuesday you are coming to Yonkers?” Star mur- mured, in reply to this remark of her lover’s. ‘‘I thought you ‘were to be away from New York next week ?” ? : Gomichbooks.Go