At the end of twenty minutes she stopped before the door of a large and handsome store, where for a moment she seemed to hesitate as if uncertain what to do next.
At last, with fluctuating color and trembling hand, she turned the handle and entered.
A little while passed, and then she came forth again, while now she appeared pale and agitated.
As the door closed after her, she stood still for a moment upon the sidewalk, seeming lost in troubled thought; then a tremulous sigh, which was almost a sob, broke from her lips, and she turned and walked toward her school.
CHAPTER VIII.
RETRENCHMENT.
Winter passed, spring came and went, and the commencement exercises of the seminary where Star was attending drew nigh.
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 the year.
It chanced this time to fall upon Star’s birthday, although no one was aware of that fact save herself; but to her it was destined to prove an eventful occasion, and one long to be remembered.
Mr. Richards received and opened his invitation with his other letters on that very morning, and after glancing over it, passed it to his wife.
She merely looked at it, yawned, and then laid it indifferently one side.