Vashti's Fate — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

126 A NEW WARDROBE. them so, Elizabeth Brent called me a little pauper, and threatened to strike me.” A vivid color flashed into Vashti’s pale face as, with Violet still clinging to her, she took two or three steps to- ward the now silent group. : Fixing her haughty glance on Elizabeth Brent first, and suffering it to travel thence over the others, she said : ‘‘T do not interfere with you. IJ never meddle with your pastimes, or your gossips. I have never harmed one of you. It is senseless and idiotic to abuse me, who have given you no cause, but when you, Elizabeth Brent, or any one else, is cruel enough to taunt a little child like - Violet Granger, because she defends her friend, I say there is no word strong enough to express the scorn and contempt you deserve. ” Vashtis tone and bearing gave a force to her language, before which the group surrounding Elizabeth Brent cow- ered, looking helplessly to her for a reply to a rebuke they — felt was deserved, while the other party of girls, crowding round Violet's champion, became vociferous in their eager- ness to disclaim all part or lot in so reprehensible an affair. Violet was a great favorite with them ; they liked Vashti’s eloquence, and many of them had only wanted a good and sufficient opportunity to avow themselves friends. Thereis a dash and fascination about independence, real, or even assumed independence, that always captivates our American girls. There was, moreover, a suspicion abroad among them that Vashti could be wonderfully genial if she chose, and there wasn’t a girl among them all, unless it was Eliza- beth Brent, but that had felt like throwing up their bonnets and giving three cheers for Vashti when little golden-haired Violet made her appearance with Vashti’s present, a cloak and hood, that was the admiration of everybody. All this <I . ‘ ~ Pad * a ae 3a a, J * eat Ane “ ¥ _~ - ‘ ™'s , . -,. ~ 4 7 . a ~~ : a + «=. : & ~ L r ._ ’ ’ z 7,4 > “re To A hy play 2 a TEES nh CB ek a ei Oe aS 14 ee ee *comicbooks.com PT sah pd i Se: ts Peo + > oe Sa’: ok : ‘ * * +. “4 : om * » . - + ~ wd -_, ° Pu! «e ’ > .