Stella Rosevelt — page 252: what you’re looking at

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

246 AN INTERESTING STORY. was a burden and incumbrance. But just then you appeared to me, and your heavenly kindness made my poor old heart glow again. Still, 1 was so embittered by finding my only brother’s children so heartless and selfish, that I was not quite sure of you. It made me mistrust everybody, and I feared you might grow to be like them. But for that I should not have remained a day beneath Ellen Richards’ roof; I should have _ gone my own way again as soon as I became rested and re- cruited. Do you remember how you came to me the next morning after my arrival, and cheered me with your merry chat and your thoughtful little gift? I said, ‘Surely this child must be artless—she must be true;’ but I resolved to stay awhile and test and study you, and you have been a blessing to me from the first. My dear, I began to love you for my lost Star’s sake ; now I love you for your own. ‘There, you have all my story now, and you must go to rest, for to-morrow will be vour birth- day, and we must celebrate a little in honor of it,” Mr. Rosevelt concluded, patting her softly on the shoulder. Star lifted a flushed and tearful face to his. ~ “Uncle Jacob!” she cried, tenderly; ‘‘it seems as if you are really that to me now; and I am so glad that you have told me how you have loved my grandmother, and I shall try more than ever after this to make your life as bright as possible. I dc not see how any one could ever have treated you unkindly or disrespectfully. ” Uncle Jacob smiled fondly at her. ‘‘T know there is one at least who treats me kindly for my own sake, and who would share all her laurels with me. My child, I was very proud of vou to-night.” ‘‘And I of you,” Star added, quickly. ‘‘I never saw you look so nice—so like an aristocratic old gentleman.” He laughed, such a bright, hearty laugh that she wondered to see him so pleased over her little compliment, Gomichbooks: co