The reigning belle

Transcriber’s Note:
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
BY MRS. ANN S. STEPHENS.
AUTHOR OF “MABEL’S MISTAKE; OR, THE LOST JEWELS,” “THE WIFE’S SECRET; OR, GILLIAN,” “LORD HOPE’S CHOICE; OR, MORE SECRETS THAN ONE,” “BERTHA’S ENGAGEMENT,” “BELLEHOOD AND BONDAGE; OR, BOUGHT WITH A PRICE,” “FASHION AND FAMINE,” “PALACES AND PRISONS; OR, THE PRISONER OF THE BASTILE,” “NORSTON’S REST,” “RUBY GRAY’S STRATEGY; OR, MARRIED BY MISTAKE,” “THE OLD COUNTESS,” “THE HEIRESS; OR, THE GYPSY’S LEGACY,” “THE SOLDIER’S ORPHANS,” “A NOBLE WOMAN; OR, A GULF BETWEEN THEM,” “MARY DERWENT,” “DOUBLY FALSE; OR, ALIKE AND NOT ALIKE,” “THE GOLD BRICK,” “CURSE OF GOLD,” “MARRIED IN HASTE,” “REJECTED WIFE,” “WIVES AND WIDOWS; OR, THE BROKEN LIFE,” “SILENT STRUGGLES,” “THE OLD HOMESTEAD,” ETC.
“The Reigning Belle,” by Mrs. Ann S. Stephens, is a romantic and thrilling novel of fashionable society, full of intensely dramatic scenes and overflowing with absorbing interest. The action goes straight ahead. So skilfully is the plot framed and handled that the veil of mystery surrounding Eva Laurence, the beautiful shop-girl, Mrs. Lambert, the society belle, and Herman Ross, the artist, cannot be penetrated until the author sees fit to throw it aside. Eva is a charming heroine, and the hero, Ivon Lambert, is a fine specimen of American manhood. The love episodes are delightfully depicted. There is much enjoyable humor in the novel, relieving the numerous exciting incidents. The scene in the Lambert conservatory between Mrs. Lambert and Ross, Mrs. Lambert’s jealous espionage of Ross at Mrs. Carter’s party, the episode in the court-room and the exposure of Miss Spicer are particularly stirring, but the whole romance is unusually powerful and effective. Everybody should read “The Reigning Belle” and enjoy a rich treat. Mrs. Stephens’ novels are among the best and most popular published, are admired by young and old alike, should be read by all, and will be found for sale by all Booksellers.