Stella Rosevelt — page 355: what you’re looking at

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

THE MOCK MARRIAGE. 349 she danced gayly up to Lord Carrol and Josephine, saying, eagerly : ‘¢Archie”—she had known him all her life, and being in- timate in the family, felt privileged to address him thus— ‘Archie, we have been arranging such capital fun, and we want you to agree to help us in it.” ‘‘Certainly J will: assist you. You know you are to do exactly as you like to-night, and get all the enjoyment you can out of this occasion.” ‘‘Oh, you are perfectly delightful! Isn’t he, Miss Richards?” returned the merry girl, with a glance at Josephine, and the look which that young lady shot at him, half startled but. wholiy admiring, together with the flush which leaped into her cheeks, answered the question better than any words could have done. ‘‘Well, granted that I am all that,’’ Lord Carrol said, laugh- ing, ‘‘ what next?” : ‘‘We are going to have a mock marriage; everybody has agreed that it will be something new under the sun, and we're just in the mood for a wedding or any event equally exciting. It is almost on the stroke of twelve, and it will be just the thing to wind up with before we begin our dancing. ‘Don't you think it will seem like trifling with a serious sub ect?” Lord Carrol asked, rather gravely. ‘Oh, no. Of course we do not mean anything wrong; it is only for a little fun, and we do so want a bride to lead off in the dance,” replied the thoughtless girl. ‘“Well,” the young man returned, lightly, ‘‘anything you like, only do not let the ceremony be too tedious, for I am ready for my dance, and | believe [ shall ask vou to be my first partner, Minnie. But who are ycu going to have for victims?” he concluded, unsuspicious of the trap he was walk- ing into. ‘*Oh, you're to be groom, and Miss Richards the bride. She GoOmicbdooks (E(@)