Vashti's Fate — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

GOSSIP—EVERLEIGH ANTECEDENTS. 53 that. She’s got the upper hand with Mrs. Everleigh some- how, and then she took that of the whole house. ‘There used to be queer stories of her doings before Roscoe Ever- leigh died, you know.” ‘I’ve heard something of the kind—never anything definite. Now tell me all you know, Mrs. Sparks; I’m dying to hear.” Mrs. Sparks was in her element directly. Miss Dale settled herself a little more comfortably in her chair, and Mrs. Sparks began. ‘They do say that Roscoe Everleigh waited on both them girls—Eva Stoner (that’s Mrs. Everleigh) and Margery Gresham. But everybody thought he was going to marry Margery—he was a sight more attentive to her—when all at once he turned right roundand married Eva. Margery didn’t come near em for a long while; but when Mrs. Everleigh’s last child was born, they say she begged so hard for her sister, as she calls her, that Miss Gresham—she had never married, though they say she had offers enough—Miss Gresham come right away, to see her, and she has never left her since. Mrs. Everleigh was a great hand for parties in them days; she just went and went all the time, and Margery took the whole charge of the house on her shoul- ders. Well, Margery used to rule the house, I can tell you. I know.” ‘*She rules yet for that matter,” remarked Miss Dale. ‘I believe you, but in them days what made it so queer, the master and mistress of the house were both alive and well, and even Roscoe Everleigh himself never pretended to interfere with her. He was a mighty high-headed man, (they're awful high-tempered, all of them,) but he used to take the harshest language from Miss Gresham without a word. I’ve known a great deal of the family, first and last. : ie | Eomicbooks-co