Stella Rosevelt — page 379: what you’re looking at

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

STELLA’S MENTAL AGONY. 373 Very quietly she gathered up her letters and papers, which had slipped to the floor when she fell. With trembling fingers she folded that fatal sheet into the smallest compass, and tucked it slyly into her pocket; then laying the others on the table beside Mr. Rosevelt, she said: ‘‘T do not think I will read any more now, Uncle Jacob; but perhaps you would like to look over these home papers. I will go and lie down fora little while, and try to sleep off my weakness. ” He took her white face between his hands and looked anx- iously into her eyes, ‘‘My dear, my dear,” he said, earnestly, ‘‘I hope you are not going to be sick; what should I do without you? You must take care of yourself for my sake, as well as for your own, my Star.” She smiled, and, taking one of the hands that held her face, touched her lips to it. She knew that no daughter was ever more tenderly beloved than she was by this grand old man, whose deathless affection had been given to her grandmother. ‘No, I shall not be sick, Uncle Jacob; do not worry,” she returned, trying to speak lightly. ‘‘ Many people frequently faint, and get entirely over itinan hour. I shall be as well as ever in a little while, and all right for the reception at the American Legation this evening.” ‘I do not believe you will be able to go,” he said, doubt- fully. ‘‘ You must not expose yourself.” ‘Oh, I would not miss it on any account,” Star answered, quickly. ‘‘Let me run away now for a nap, and I will show you how fresh I shall be when the hour arrives.” She was anxious to get away from his questioning eyes, and, gently releasing herself from him, she sought her own room and locked herself in. All day long she battled there with her tortured heart; all GoOmiicbooks (EO)