Stella Rosevelt — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

RETRENCHMENT. | 79 Mr. Richards looked grave. He remembered how Josephine had been all ‘‘ fuss and feathers” at every commencement, and here this lovely girl was going to appear before a crowded hall in a dress which his daughter would not have worn in her own private room. ‘If you will step around to Hunt & Co.’s with me, you shall have one of those pretty summer silks that they are adver- tising so extensively. I should be gratified to have you as well dressed as your classmates, and I fear that your needs have been neglected in this respect,” he remarked, with a slight frown. Star flushed scarlet now. She had wished—oh, so earnestly !—that morning that she could have something dainty to wear, and she had sighed regret- fully as she thought of all her pretty clothes lying at the bottom of the ccean, for they had been prettily made, although they were of inexpensive material; and she had heard the girls talk- ing of the new dresses which were being made for them. But when her toilet was completed and she looked in the glass, she felt that, notwithstanding the disadvantage of her apparel, there was at least a distinguished air about her which bespoke the true lady, and ij was comforted. ‘‘Thank you,” she answered, quietly, while the color stow receded from her brow and cheeks; ‘‘you are very kind to suggest it, but, if you please, I ones to go aslam. I shall be gratified,” she added, dropping the proud ring out of her voice, ‘‘if you feel sufficiently interested to attend the exercises to-day, and I will endeavor to show vou that I have tried to improve the advantages that you have given me.” ‘I should be willing to take your word for it,” Mr. Richards ’ said, heartily, ‘‘ but I will come and see for myself.” Star looked pleased at this assurance, and then, giving him a friendly little bow and smile, went away with a light heart. — ‘‘ By George! she'll make a woman to be proud of, or—or ‘I’m much mistaken,’ as Mrs. Blunt would remark. She has Gomicbooks (E(0)