Stella Rosevelt — page 382: what you’re looking at

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

376 STELLA’S MENTAL AGONY. There was a buzz of admiration as she crossed the threshold, as there always was wherever she appeared, for it was not often that even that place was graced by the presence of one so won- drously gifted with beauty. She wore a dress of pale ecru silk, rich and heavy, and made perfectly plain save for the deep flounce of costly lace which reached almost to her knees, and the delicate vine or fringe of drooping ferns that headed it. Her fair, beautifully formed arms and neck, which were con- cealed only by the same rare lace, were clasped by unique orna- ments of dull gold, and these, together with the cluster of fine ferns upon her bosom, fastened there with a miniature, dia- mond-studded bouquet-holder, comprised her only ornaments. But her face, so pure and peerless, looking out beneath that golden crown of hair, though a little paler than usual from her recent pain, was the loveliest object in that vast room. ‘« American ladies are noted for their beauty, I believe; but though I have met many, I have never yet seen a more exquis- ite face and form than that,” said one gentleman to another, who stood leaning against the frame of the door through which ‘Star and Mr. Rosevelt had passed but a moment before. ‘“You are right; but Gladstone, which is the young lady’s hame, sounds more English than American,” returned the gen- tleman addressed. ash ‘<'They are registered as Americans, however, and she has the peculiar beauty of one,” said the first speaker. ‘‘They havea way of enhancing their charms, too, by their perfect taste in dress. Our English ladies, as a rule, do not understand the art of dressing well, though there are, of course, exceptions to the rule, as Miss Vivien Sherbrooke’s charming costume over there testifies. By the way,” he added, with more animation, ‘‘ they say that that handsome young American—Meredith, they call him—is going to win our Cheshire beauty away from us.” He glanced, as he ceased speaking, across the room to where Gomicbooks,Go