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Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
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No. 34
10 Cents
PRETTY GERALDINE
by
MRS. ALEX McVEIGH MILLER
[Illustration: EAGLE LIBRARY]
STREET & SMITH NEW YORK
All Stories Copyrighted. Cannot be had in any other edition
* * * * * *
EAGLE LIBRARY
A weekly publication devoted to good literature
By subscription $5 per year. Oct. 18, 1891.
Entered as second-class matter at N. Y. post-office.
NO. 34
THE MOST POPULAR SERIES OF NOVELS PUBLISHED
STREET &
SMITH'S
EAGLE LIBRARY
Of 12mo. Copyrighted Books
RETAIL PRICE, 10 CENTS.
[Illustration]
Paper and printing equal to any 25 cent series on the market. Handsome
and Attractive Cover of different design for each issue.
[Illustration]
CATALOGUE
=30--Baron Sam. By the author of Dr. Jack.=
=29--Theodora. By Victorien Sardou.=
=28--Miss Caprice. By the author of Dr. Jack.=
=27--Estelle's Millionaire Lover. By Julia Edwards.=
26--Captain Tom. By the author of Dr. Jack.
25--Little Southern Beauty. By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
24--A Wasted Love. By Charles Garvice.
23--Miss Pauline of New York. By the author of Dr. Jack.
22--Elaine. By Charles Garvice.
21--A Heart's Idol. By Bertha M. Clay.
20--The Senator's Bride. By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
19--Mr. Lake of Chicago. By Harry DuBois Milman.
18--Dr. Jack's Wife. By St. George Rathborne.
17--Leslie's Loyalty. By Charles Garvice.
16--The Fatal Card. By Haddon Chambers and B. C. Stephenson.
15--Dr. Jack. By St. George Rathborne.
14--Violet Lisle. By Bertha M. Clay.
13--The Little Widow. By Julia Edwards.
12--Edrie's Legacy. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
11--The Gypsy's Daughter. By Bertha M. Clay.
10--Little Sunshine. By Francis S. Smith.
9--The Virginia Heiress. By May Agnes Fleming.
8--Beautiful but Poor. By Julia Edwards.
7--Two Keys. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
6--The Midnight Marriage. By A. M. Douglas.
5--The Senator's Favorite. Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
4--For a Woman's Honor. By Bertha M. Clay.
3--He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not. By Julia Edwards.
2--Ruby's Reward. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
1--Queen Bess. By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
THESE BOOKS CAN BE HAD IN NO OTHER SERIES
* * * * * *
PRETTY GERALDINE.
By MRS. ALEX. M'VEIGH MILLER.
* * * * * *
POPULAR NOVELS
--IN--
THE EAGLE LIBRARY
BY
The Author of Dr. Jack
PUBLISHED BY STREET & SMITH
DR. JACK
DR. JACK'S WIFE
MISS PAULINE OF NEW YORK
CAPTAIN TOM
MISS CAPRICE
BARON SAM
MONSIEUR BOB
THE COLONEL BY BREVET
MAJOR MATTERSON OF KENTUCKY
MRS. BOB
THE GREAT MOGUL
FOR SALE EVERYWHERE.
* * * * * *
PRETTY GERALDINE, THE NEW YORK SALESGIRL;
Or,
Wedded to Her Choice.
by
MRS. ALEX. McVEIGH MILLER,
Author of "Little Coquette Bonnie," "The Senator's Bride," "Brunette
and Blonde," "Rosamond," "The Senator's Favorite,"
"A Little Southern Beauty," "Sweet Violet,"
"Dora Tenney," Etc., Etc., Etc.
[Illustration]
New York:
Street & Smith, Publishers,
29 Rose Street.
Copyrighted 1895 by STREET & SMITH.
PRETTY GERALDINE,
THE NEW YORK SALESGIRL
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. ON THE THRESHOLD OF HER FATE.
CHAPTER II. A FRIEND IN NEED.
CHAPTER III. A GALLANT RESCUE.
CHAPTER IV. "TWO SOULS WITH BUT A SINGLE THOUGHT."
CHAPTER V. RIVALS AND FOES.
CHAPTER VI. FORTUNE, THAT FICKLE GODDESS, FAVORS STANDISH.
CHAPTER VII. THE POWER OF LOVE.
CHAPTER VIII. "A GIRL HAS A RIGHT TO CHANGE HER MIND."
CHAPTER IX. THE ACTOR MAKES HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES.
CHAPTER X. A CRUEL DISAPPOINTMENT.
CHAPTER XI. A CRUSHING SORROW.
CHAPTER XII. THE LETTER THAT NEVER CAME.
CHAPTER XIII. TORTURED TO MADNESS.
CHAPTER XIV. A THEATRE PARTY.
CHAPTER XV. GERALDINE WOULD NEVER FORGET ALDERSON.
CHAPTER XVI. "CALL PRIDE TO YOUR AID, GERALDINE."
CHAPTER XVII. AT THE END OF THE PLAY.
CHAPTER XVIII. REUNION.
CHAPTER XIX. MUTUAL LOVE.
CHAPTER XX. "LOVE IS THE BEST OF ALL."
CHAPTER XXI. "OH, GERALDINE, I'LL HAVE TO TELL YOU MY GUARDED
SECRET!"
CHAPTER XXII. "THAT WOMAN SHALL PAY DEARLY FOR THIS!"
CHAPTER XXIII. CISSY'S SECRET.
CHAPTER XXIV. IN THE POWER OF A FIEND.
CHAPTER XXV. UNDER SUSPICION.
CHAPTER XXVI. TOO LATE! TOO LATE.
CHAPTER XXVII. HAWTHORNE CLUNG TO HOPE, IN SPITE OF HIS TROUBLE.
CHAPTER XXVIII. THAT WORD WAS LIKE A DAGGER IN HER HEART.
CHAPTER XXIX. A LEAF OUT OF HIS OWN BOOK.
CHAPTER XXX. A STARTLING DECLARATION.
CHAPTER XXXI. FROM WANT TO WEALTH.
CHAPTER XXXII. "YOU WILL SOON FORGET YOUR POOR LOVER IN THE NEW
SPHERE THAT YOU WILL FILL."
CHAPTER XXXIII. CLIFFORD STANDISH TRIES TO CREATE A GRAND IMPRESSION.
CHAPTER XXXIV. ENEMIES AT BAY.
CHAPTER XXXV. GERALDINE'S CHOICE.
CHAPTER XXXVI. GERALDINE'S DEFIANCE.
CHAPTER XXXVII. "A WOMAN'S HONOR IS INVOLVED, AND MY SILENCE IS ITS
ONLY SAFEGUARD."
CHAPTER XXXVIII. "STOP THE CARRIAGE!"
CHAPTER XXXIX. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR TRUE LOVE TO FORGET.
CHAPTER XL. "IT IS LIKE SUICIDE!"
CHAPTER XLI. GERALDINE'S SUSPENSE.
CHAPTER XLII. "YOU DON'T KNOW HOW I HATE TO RAKE UP THE ASHES OF THE
PAST."
CHAPTER XLIII. CISSY'S PATHETIC LOVE STORY.
CHAPTER XLIV. "HOW CAN I REPAY THEIR BOUNTY WITH SUCH TREACHERY?"
CHAPTER XLV. "IF I WERE A KING I WOULD RAISE HER TO MY THRONE!"
CHAPTER XLVI. "I WILL TEST MY DARLING'S LOVE."
CHAPTER XLVII. LADY AMY'S LOVERS.
CHAPTER XLVIII. EVERY WOMANLY IMPULSE IN HER NATURE CRIED OUT AGAINST
SUCH A CRUEL WRONG.
CHAPTER XLIX. ONLY PRIDE.
CHAPTER L. "LOVE MAKES FOOLS OF US ALL!"
CHAPTER LI. STARTLING NEWS.
CHAPTER LII. FOR CISSY'S SAKE.
CHAPTER LIII. "I WILL NEVER FORGIVE HER!"
CHAPTER LIV. "WILL YOU BID ME GODSPEED."
CHAPTER LV. DETECTED.
CHAPTER LVI. A REPENTANT SINNER.
CHAPTER LVII. A NIGHTMARE DREAM.
CHAPTER LVIII. SENTENCE OF DEATH.
CHAPTER LIX. WEDDED TO HER CHOICE.
CHAPTER I.
ON THE THRESHOLD OF HER FATE.
"If I could have my dearest wish fulfilled,
And take my choice of all earth's treasures, too,
Or choose from Heaven whatsoe'er I willed,
I'd ask for you!
"No one I'd envy, either high or low,
No king in castle old or palace new;
I'd hold Calconda's mines less rich than I
If I had you!"
"There is more charm for my true, loving heart,
In everything you think, or say, or do,
Then all the joys that Heaven could e'er impart,
Because it's you!"
She stood behind the counter in H. O'Neill's splendid dry-goods
emporium on Sixth avenue--only one of his army of salesgirls, yet
not a belle of the famous society Four Hundred could eclipse her in
beauty--pretty Geraldine, with her great, starry, brown eyes lighting
up a bewitching face, with a skin like a rose-leaf, and a low, white
brow, crowned by an aureole of curly hair, in whose waves the sunshine
was tangled so that it could not get free. Her round, white throat rose
proudly from a simple, nun-like gown of fine black serge, unadorned
save by the beauty of the form it fitted with easy grace.
She would have graced a queen's drawing-room, this lovely girl with her
starry eyes and demure dimples, but untoward fate had placed her behind
a glove counter in New York.
It was very cold up to ten o'clock that bright October morning, and the
great throngs of fall shoppers were not yet out in force, so Geraldine
had an idle moment in which to gossip with her chum, plump, gray-eyed
Cissy Carroll.
They both belonged to an amateur dramatic society, and a generous
manager had sent them tickets for the play that evening. It was of this
anticipated pleasure that they were chatting joyously, when a low,
deep, masculine voice spoke to Geraldine across the counter:
"Gloves, please."
She turned quickly toward her customer, and at the same moment a very
exacting lady claimed Cissy's attention.
The shop was rapidly filling with elegantly dressed women of fashion,
and they would have no more leisure that day.
Geraldine saw before her an elegant-looking gentleman--tall,
broad-shouldered, graceful, with a clean-shaven face, clear-cut
features, fair, clustering locks, and large, glittering, light-blue
eyes, keen and clear as points of steel in their direct gaze, but with
something unpleasant somehow in their admiring expression that made the
pretty salesgirl drop her eyes bashfully, as he continued, easily:
"I have lost a bet of a box of gloves to a lady, and would like you to
assist me in selecting some pretty ones to pay the debt."
"What size?" she asked, as she began pulling down the boxes.
"Sixes," he replied, and added: "She is a gay and pretty young girl--an
actress."
"An actress!" Geraldine sighed, enviously, then smothered the sigh by
saying, carelessly: "We both wear the same size of glove."
"Ah!" and the customer gazed admiringly at the slender, dimpled white
hands sorting out the gloves, then continued: "And I am an actor, and
it pleases me to tell you that I am Clifford Standish, the leading man
in 'Hearts and Homes,' the society play you are going to see to-night."
He laid his elegantly engraved card before her, and she started with
surprise and pleasure, faltering, eagerly:
"I--I am proud to know you--but how did you guess I was going to the
theatre to-night?"
"I beg your pardon for listening, but I heard you and your chum talking
about it while I stood at the counter waiting for you to notice me."
"Oh, did I keep you waiting? I am very sorry; and if the floor-walker
had observed my inattention, I should have been scolded."
Clifford Standish drank in with keen delight the music of her voice,
and thrilled with rapture at her rare beauty, so he answered, gallantly:
"He did not see you, and I was in no hurry, for it pleased me just
to stand there and watch you. I was watching your spirited face and
gestures and thinking that you would make a clever actress. You belong
to an amateur dramatic society, do you not?"
"Oh, yes, and I enjoy it so much. It is the dream of my life to be
an actress!" exclaimed Geraldine, impulsively, her eager, brown eyes
shining like stars. Her beauty thrilled his blood like a draught of
rare old wine, and he felt that here was the love of his life, for no
woman had ever touched his heart as maddeningly as this one; so he
answered, almost as passionately, in a swift, overmastering impulse to
draw her within the circle of his life:
"A dream that may easily become a reality. Will you let me help you to
become an actress? I am almost sure that I can secure you a position in
my company."
"Oh, I would be so grateful," smiled Geraldine, her cheeks glowing
crimson with joy.
"Then you will permit me to call on you and talk it over? Let me
see--you will be at home this evening at seven o'clock, will you not?
May I come for half an hour at that time?"
"If you please," she answered, eagerly, scribbling her address on the
back of his card.
He took it with thanks, his keen, blue eyes gleaming with triumph at
the success of his ruse, and then gave his attention to the gloves,
which he paid for and directed to be sent to his hotel.
He lingered as long as he dared after the purchase, but another
customer soon claimed Geraldine's attention, so he smiled and bowed
himself away, leaving the young girl with a fluttering heart and
blushing cheeks, the result of this chance, but fateful, meeting.
Geraldine and Cecilia were close friends, having come together
from their country homes to seek employment among strangers in the
great city. They roomed together in the third story of a cheap
apartment-house, and Cissy, as her intimates called her, was like an
older sister to the ambitious Geraldine.
Cissy was twenty-five, and her friend only eighteen, so she always
assumed the role of adviser to her junior, and as they walked home from
the store that evening, she said, reprovingly:
"My dear, I didn't like the young man who talked to you so glibly over
the gloves this morning."
"Ah, Cissy, you don't know who that young man was, or you would be
proud of his notice!" And Geraldine poured out a breathless account of
her good fortune.
But, to her surprise, Cecilia answered, gravely:
"Oh, I heard a good deal that he was saying to you, and noticed, too,
that he looked at you as if he would like to eat you up. But, dear
Geraldine, please don't let him persuade you with his silly flatteries
to go on the stage. It's a hard life for a young girl, they say, and
full of terrible temptations. Believe me, you are better off behind
O'Neill's glove counter."
Geraldine's pride was cruelly wounded at Cissy's lack of sympathy in
her pet ambition, and she answered, rashly:
"Cissy Carroll, you're just jealous, that's why you preach to me! I
can't help being pretty and attractive, can I? And I know that if he
had offered to make you an actress, instead of me, you'd have sung
quite another tune."
Cecilia felt her friend's slur on her own attractiveness, and flushed
with quick resentment.
She knew that she was not as beautiful as Geraldine, but she had the
soft, plump prettiness of a gray dove, so attractive to many men, and
she had not lacked for admirers, although, for reasons of her own, she
was single still, so she tossed her pretty dark head, her gray eyes
flashing scorn, and made no reply to the ungenerous attack.
Geraldine, still angry, continued, patronizingly:
"If you would like to be an actress, too, Cissy, I'll introduce the
actor to you when he calls this evening, and ask him to get you a
position."
"Pray, don't trouble yourself, for I sha'n't enter the room while he's
there. I despise real stage people! They're most always shabby sheep,
and their acquaintance no credit," returned Cissy, rudely, giving such
mortal offense by the taunt that Geraldine did not speak another word
to her on the way home.
They had two small rooms, and Cissy hastened to one to prepare their
simple tea, so as to get ready for the theatre, but Geraldine hurried
to beautify herself for her caller, putting on her best gown, a garnet
cashmere, with velvet trimmings, and drawing her wealth of golden brown
locks into the classic Psyche knot.
"Supper's ready!" called Cissy, curtly, from the next room.
"I don't want any, thank you," Geraldine answered, coldly, and, indeed,
her excitement ran too high for her to eat.
So Cissy ate her solitary meal in snubbed silence, while the radiant
Geraldine entertained her caller, for Clifford Standish soon came, and
spent a delightful half-hour, having to tear himself away at the last
minute to return to his stage duties. Then she and Cissy patched up a
kind of truce, and went together to the play, returning at the close,
Cissy silent and disapproving, and Geraldine more determined than ever
to go on the stage.
The girls were very distant to each other after that, but Geraldine
carried a high head, and clung to her purpose, encouraged by the
handsome young actor, who called on her for a short while every
evening, and gave her tickets to every performance, declaring that she
inspired him to his best work by the rapt gaze of her appreciative eyes
as she sat in the audience.
But Cissy would not accompany her friend again to the play, doing all
she could in a quiet way to wean her from her infatuation, but in vain.
She thought that Geraldine was weak and vain and silly, and the latter
believed that Cissy was jealous of her good fortune. She hoped that
she would soon be able to go on the stage, and part from the girl who
had grown so selfish and cruel. The breach widened between their once
loving hearts, and neither tried to bridge it over by a kind, forgiving
word.
Toward the end of the week, Geraldine said, coldly:
"I am not going to work to-morrow morning, Cissy. I asked for a day's
holiday before I left the store yesterday."
"Why?" asked Cissy, curiously.
"Mr. Standish has invited me to go with him on an excursion to Newburgh
to witness the firemen's parade there. The firemen are having a grand
celebration, you know, with splendid music, a grand parade, and all
sorts of firemen's games. I wish you were going, too, Cissy!" wistfully.
"Well, I don't, and I think you are imprudent to go alone with that
strange actor--so there!"
"Well, come with us, Cissy, won't you? I don't think he would mind your
going!"
"Oh, yes, he would! 'Two are company, three a crowd!'" Cissy quoted,
flippantly, and she went alone to work the next morning, Geraldine
having started at an earlier hour to take the day boat for Newburgh.