Stella Rosevelt — page 357: what you’re looking at

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

THE MOCK MARRIAGE. 351 riage service, though but the meaningless freak of a wild girl, would. seem as solemn to her as if he were really to make her his wife. That was ‘‘folly” without doubt, but she loved him so that she could not help the feeling. He offered her his arm, and they retired to the anteroom together, and Lord Carrol could not help perceiving the strange _ thrill which pervaded the girl's whole frame as her hand came in contact with his arm. But they were not left long alone, for Minnie Shelton soon came tripping in with an exquisite point lace shawl hanging over her arm. ‘* Everybody is on the guz vive,” she said, breathlessly, ‘‘and we must not keep them waiting. Sit down, Miss Richards, on this divan, and let me pin this shawl on your head; it will make a lovely bridal vail. There, Lord Carrol, isn't she charm- ing?” she asked, after she had dextrously arranged it in graceful folds. ‘‘ Doesn't she look like a real bride?” ‘‘T think your efforts have been eminently successful to make her appear like one,” he answered, smiling; and certainJy Jose- phine was as lovely as it was possible for any one to be. ‘‘T only hope, my lord, that when you do.get married you'll find somebody half as beautiful,” retorted the saucy elf. ‘‘ There, youll do; now go, for they are all waiting, and the parson is ready to pronounce the banns.” Lord Carrol felt very uneasy, but he offered his arm to Jose- phine again, and her hand fell upon it, white and soft as a snow-flake. | They passed out into the great ball-room and paused under the green arch, while murmurs of surprise and admiration greeted them from every side, for the addition of the lace shawl to Josephine’s already charming toilet had greatly enpancer her appearance. Two or three young girls, led by Minnie Shelton, advanced ~ EOTMIEOOOKS (E(©)