Mona; Or, The Secret of a Royal Mirror

E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Mary Meehan, and the Project
Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
Or, The Secret of a Royal Mirror
Author of Virgie's Inheritance , A True Aristocrat , Trixy , Lost A Pearle , Helen's Victory , etc.
1891
Appleton, don't look quite yet, but there's a woman just behind you whom I want you to see. I never before saw such a face and figure! They are simply perfection!
The above remarks were made by a young man, perhaps thirty years of age, to his companion, who, evidently, was somewhat his senior.
The two gentlemen were seated at a private table in the dining-room of a large hotel in Chicago, Illinois, and were themselves both handsome and distinguished in appearance.
There! the speaker continued, as a slight commotion near them indicated that some one was rising from a table; she is about to leave the room, and now is your chance.
The gentleman addressed turned to look as the lady passed; but the moment she was beyond the possibility of hearing he broke into a laugh of amusement.
Oh, Cutler! he exclaimed; I never would have believed that you could rave so over a red-head—you who all your life have held such hair in detestation!
Well, returned Mr. Cutler, flushing guiltily, I acknowledge that I have always had a peculiar aversion to red hair; but, truly, hers is an unusual shade—not a flaming, staring red, but deep and rich. I never saw anything just like it before. Anyhow, she is a magnificent, specimen of womanhood. See! what a queenly carriage! what a figure! and his glance followed the lady referred to, lingeringly, admiringly.