Stella Rosevelt

“A star Which moves not ’mid the moving heavens alone, A smile among dark frowns—a gentle tone Among rude voices, a beloved light, A solitude, a refuge, a delight.”—SHELLEY.

Here she found the captain, sailors, and passengers—those of them who were unharmed—hovering around the life-boats, eager to spring into them the moment they were lowered, and g...

Mr. Rosevelt began to mend at once under the skillful treatment of the ship’s surgeon, and to regain his strength much more readily than the young girl who had been so faithful...

It was very late when the stately ship rolled slowly up to her pier, too late for the customs officers to visit her that night, and the impatient passengers were forced to wait...

“What does this mean?” she demanded, passionately. “Why am I received in this strange, this heartless manner, by my mother’s cousin? Why does she presume to cast aspersions upon...

“I should think not, indeed, nor at any other time. You haven’t eaten a ‘square meal’ since you came into this house,” the good woman said, with an injured air.

“Not to any such extent, sir. Mamma used to require me to take care of the music-room, besides my own, at home, for we could keep only one servant, and I _know how_ to sweep, an...

The faculty, as was their custom, sent forth cards of invitation to its patrons, requesting them to be present and see for themselves what their children had accomplished during...

A few mornings after Star’s emancipation from her duties as a servant, she encountered, as she was coming down stairs to her breakfast, Josephine, who was also on her way to the...

On the very evening of the day of that spirited discussion between Mr. and Mrs. Richards regarding the coming of the latter’s uncle, a railway carriage stopped before the door o...

“Breakfast, indeed!” muttered Mrs. Richards, with a toss of her proud head; “as if he supposed he was going to be invited to sit at the table with my fashionable guests in his s...

A fortnight passed, and the Brooklyn beauty, as Miss Richards was designated, together with the attention she was receiving from the handsome English lord, formed the principal...

This occupied nine long hours of five days in the week, and, weary as she was upon her return, she always devoted what time she could to the white-haired old gentleman who watch...

“I think not; the hour is engaged for me, and if I am not there I lose it. I should hardly like to do that, for I must make the most of my time this year.”

But when he softly laid his hand upon hers, saying, gently, “Darling, I have frightened you with my abruptness,” her whole being thrilled beneath his touch, and the rich crimson...

On asking Mrs. Blunt the meaning of it, that good but evidently much disturbed woman informed her that a “real live English lord was expected to arrive the following day, and Mr...

What could this strange thing mean? What was Archibald Sherbrooke—the man who, two days before, had told her that he loved her and no other—doing there in that character of Lord...

He followed the direction she had taken. He wandered about the grounds for full half an hour, but could discover no trace of her; and at last, feeling greatly disturbed, he was...

As soon as Mr. Richards and his distinguished guest left the music-room, a white hand parted the curtains from the window, and a blanched, distorted face appeared in the aperture.

“It is unnecessary to ask her whether I have spoken the truth or not; her very looks and manner betray that she is guilty of what I have told you,” Mrs. Richards said, scornfull...

He was really a kind man at heart, and had been very much troubled by the way that his wife had conducted herself toward her aged uncle, and also by her unfeeling usage of Star.

The winter passed, the summer came again, and on a sunny day in June the great chapel of the Normal College of New York city was packed with human beings to its utmost capacity.

Jacob Rosevelt stood not far away during the conversation between Mr. Appleton, Miss Meredith, and Star, and a proud light beamed in his eyes as he listened to their praises of...

Star Gladstone’s eighteenth birthday dawned as bright and charming as it was possible for a morning to be. At eight o’clock she and Mr. Rosevelt sat down to their breakfast, and...

“What are we going to do next?” Mr. Rosevelt repeated. “Why, enjoy it all, to be sure. I have waited a good while for this good time, and now I am going to make the most of it....

Not the least attractive among these equipages was the light and airy, though costly phaeton of “Mr. Rosevelt’s ward,” with its embroidered lap-robes, its luxurious velvet-cushi...

“What does this mean?” Mrs. Richards demanded, in a low but authoritative tone. “Stella Gladstone, how is it that I find you here? Uncle Jacob, where have you been all this time...

If Mrs. Richards had conducted herself according to her own inclination, she would have left Newport at once. But she was unwilling that Mr. Rosevelt or Star should think that s...

Confusion reigned during the next half hour among the company who had hitherto been so gay. Josephine Richards had rushed into their midst, startling everybody out of their sens...

They were gone almost before any one knew that they contemplated going; and, it must be confessed, that it was a great relief to both Star and Mr. Rosevelt when they learned of...

“You will remember that you have promised that I am still to be your friend; you will not avoid me and deny me the pleasure of your society because of what I have told you to-ni...

The week that they had promised themselves for rest at home proved to be a busy one instead, for considerable preparation was necessary for the long journey they were contemplat...

Mr. Rosevelt, Star, and Grace Meredith, with good-natured Mrs. Blunt to attend to matters of comfort, started on the day appointed for their Western trip, full of bright anticip...

“Have _I_ made a mistake? Have I wronged you?” Ralph Meredith asked, when the door was shut, while he gazed blankly at his companion, and feeling convinced in his heart that no...

After the meal was over, and the other guests comfortably disposed of, Archie took his friend up into the “sanctum,” as he called it, for a smoke and a quiet talk.

Mrs. Richards’ vision of magnificence bade fair to be realized; for, upon arriving in London in November, she and her family were most courteously received by the firm of Compto...

When Lady Sherbrooke informed her son that she had invited Mr. Richards and his family to spend the following week with them at their country residence, and to help them make me...

“Thank you, Miss Richards. I suppose our part in this little farce closes now. Allow me to congratulate you upon having assisted in carrying it off in the most perfect manner. I...

The next morning when the company met at breakfast, Josephine experienced a feeling of intense relief upon learning that Lord Carrol had been called away to London at an early h...

“Bless my soul! what does this mean?” Jacob Rosevelt cried, as, looking up from his own letters, in which he had been deeply absorbed, he saw the beautiful girl lying so white a...

“No, I did not,” she returned, trying to call a happy smile to her false lips. “And—and—you have heard, then?” and, dropping her darkly fringed lids as if in confusion, she play...

“Miss Gladstone, I am very glad to meet you,” she began, as she cordially put out her hand to her; then turning abruptly, and speaking with a slightly startled accent, she added:

Upon reaching home after her trip to California, which had been one of great enjoyment as well as profit, she resolved to settle down to a cozy, quiet life for the remainder of...

“You are right; I should not call it night. But always remember, dear, and let the thought comfort you when you come to miss me, that _your_ hand has guided me through the darkn...