Stella Rosevelt — page 245: what you’re looking at

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

AN INTERESTING STORY. 239 late hours and dissipation; ‘‘and besides,” she added, with a smile, ‘‘she felt like having a drop herself.” But the old gentleman was so absent-minded over his tea, that she felt almost guilty for having kept him up so late, and feared he would be ill to-morrow. She put away the tea things when they were through, and was about to light her lamp to retire, when he stopped her, saying : ‘‘Star, my dear, come and sit down upon this ottoman by me; I have something I wish to say to you.” She obeyed, wondering what had happened to make him look and speak so gravely. ‘‘Are you really happy to-night, my child?” he asked, biter: A startled look came into the girl’s eyes at this question, and her heart leaped with sudden pain as her thoughts went bound- ing over the sea to one to whom she had given the first grand passion of her soul. ‘‘Uncle Jacob,” she answered, gravely, though he could see the quiver about’ her lips, which she tried in vain to repress, ‘(Tam happier than I ever expected to be again. It is useless to regret or mourn over the past. I have tried to be sensible over it, but sometimes, I am afraid, I have not succeeded very well,” she said, with a smile that was a trifle bitter. ‘‘If,” she added, more brightly, a moment after, ‘‘that ome episode could have been left out of my life, I believe there would be nothing to mar it now.” ‘‘T would that it could have been so,” Mr. Rosevelt sighed. ‘But I want you to listen to me fora little while. I know it is latey and you ought to go to rest, but I particularly wish to tell you a short story of my life to-night. It is a page which has been turned from sight for many years, and no one has ever read it save myself. You are about entering upon a new era in your life. I have learned to love you very tenderly, my child, and I want to bind you yet closer to me.’ tae . ° Gomicbooks, Go