Stella Rosevelt — page 280: what you’re looking at

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

274 DEFEATED. ‘‘Well, niece Ellen,” Mr. Rosevelt returned, in a quiet tone, while he met her eye with a cold, steady glance that made her very uncomfortable, ‘‘it appears that you are considerably ex- cited over this unexpected meeting. Suppose we retire to yonder anteroom, where we can converse unobserved. ” He turned and led the way, with Star still upon his arm, to a small room upon the opposite side of the hall; they entered, _and he shut the door, for he did not care that any one should overhear what passed between them, nor did he intend that Ellen Richards should do or say anything which should make them objects of remark. ‘‘Now, Ellen, what is it that I am to account to you for?” he asked, in the same quiet tone which he had before used. She colored angrily, but she was determined to get at the bottom of the matter. ‘‘T have heard strange rumors to-night,” she remarked. ‘‘I -am told that Stella has become an authoress—that she is very popular, as well as her hook, and I want to know what it means. A year ago you were both dependents upon my bounty; now | find you sailing about, like a couple of meteors, among the other shining lights of society. I want an explanation of the cause of this change.” ‘‘Certainly, Ellen; since you desire it, I will explain with pleasure. We left your house last October, as you doubtless will remember, and took up our abode in New York city. Star entered the Normal College at once, and by assiduous applica- tion to her studies, succeeded in completing the course, and graduated in June, since when we have been trying to get all the enjoyment out of life that we could, Yeu have heard rightly, Ellen; she did write that popular little book, ‘Chats- worth’s Pride,’ and it is a source of pride to me that I have the honor of introducing in society its popular author as my ward and heiress se “€ Vour heiress /” Mrs, Richards cried, growing pale. comicbooks:.co