Vashti's Fate — page 200: what you’re looking at

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

DREAD. 195 “_—— o- —— > ee oe —_—eo- Vashti sat down again, looking greatly distressed, and struggling with some rising feeling, which filled her eyes with tears, that she stealthily wiped away, hoping that in the dimness of the room they had escaped observation. After a little she rose again. “‘T must really go, mamma; I feel very bad, indeed.” There was no doubt of this last being true; the hand and lip that touched Mrs. Everleigh’s were burning hot. Something trembled on Mrs. Everleigh’s tongue. She longed to say, ‘‘It will kill me if you marry that bad man, Vashti,” but she was not sure that the girl knew of Das- comb’s presence, She feared to rouse the passionate spirit that had wrung her heart so cruelly when they had last spoken on this subject; finally, it must be confessed, she feared to speak before Miss Dale, and she had great con- fidence in Margery Gresham ’s efforts for as peaceful an ad- justment of the matter as possible, so, as Vashti said again, ‘‘Good-night, mamma,” she only lifted her lips and her arms, held her an instant close—close—as though she feared she might never hold her thus again, and with a long, lingering look upon the face that tried to hide itself upon her shoulder, she let her go. As Vashti closed the door, she got a glimpse of eyes so earnest, wistful, and yearning, that she went away to her room, with the tears drifting in blinding mists over her eyes. Her room that reminded her so painfully of her loving mother, whom she was hardening her heart to leave. Her trunk—not the big trunk she had taken to Laurel Hill, but a light affair that she could almost shoulder herself, stood there, packed and strapped down. Just within the closet at her side, were her bonnet, mantle, and a traveling dress. She sat down on the trunk, crying bitterly. Presently she rose, and threw herself on the bed, but not to sleep, * ' * f = ’ < i re wee Ot ia af -348 * be > eine .) i “it Ih Olga 5G “Mt ogee. “gi i OR b> PT ee a (eCo aah ite