Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 107: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A DISAPPOINTED LOVER. 1C3 fore she was aware of his intention, to a balcony at one end, and out of the hearing of the crowd within. “Perhaps lam taking a great liberty, Miss Huntress,” he began, before she could utter a word of protest, ‘‘but I must bid you good-night presently, and I have something very important which I wish to say to you first.” Gladys shivered at his words, although the night was intensely warm, for instinctively she knew why he had brought her there. But she could not help herself now, and she thought perhaps it would be best to have their future relations definitely settled once for all. “T am obliged to return to New York on the midnight train,” the young man continued, “ but I could not go with- out first telling you what has long been burning on my lips for utterance. Gladys, I love you, and all my future happiness depends upon my winning you to be my wife. Will you give me your love inreturn? will you give me yourself?” It was a manly, straightforward declaration, and wor- thy a better man than Everet Mapleson was at that time, It impressed Gladys as being earnest and genuine, and she was grieved to know that she must wound and disap- point him. ‘“T cannot tell you how sorry I am, Mr. Mapleson, that you should have said this to me,” she retur ned, in a low, pained tone, “for Il cannot respond as you desire ; my an- swer must be a decided refusal of your suit.” ‘*Do not say that!” he burst out inan agonized tone, “Oh, my darling, you must not ruin my life with one fa- tal blow. Let me wait—ever so long, if I may only hope that some day you will be mine.” “T cannot let you hope,” Gladys replied, greatly agi- tated, ‘‘what I have said must be final. I do not love you-——I can never become your wife.” “Perhaps you do not love me now, but you can learn to do so; I will teach you. I will be very patient; I will not press you. Oh, Gladys, my beautiful, brown-haired dar- ling, do not break my heart! do not ruin my life!” A quivering sigh burst trom the young girl’ s pale lips. No one can tell how painful the interview had become to her. for she saw that he was a lover in deadly earnest, and that his affection for her was deep and true. ~ She impulsively reached out her hand and laid it upon is arm. “Mr. Mapleson,” she pleaded, ‘‘pray do not importune oO Gom Ehoo S (E(0) =)