Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 109: what you’re looking at

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

A LONG AND INTERESTING CONVERSATION. 105 friend, Mr. Mapleson; but more than that you could. never be to me under any circumstances,” Gladys an- swered, coldly. Her tone more than her words drove him almost to despair. ‘Tell me, is it because you love another ?” he persisted. ‘*T could not truthfully give that as the reason.” “That does not answer me. Do you love some one else ?” “Yes,” answered the beautiful girl, briefly and proudly. “Are you betrothed ?” Gladys lifted her head haughtily. “Mr. Mapleson,” she said, ‘‘I question your right to interrogate me in this authoritative manner, butif a plain answer will convince you that there can be no change in my decision, Iam willing to acknowledge to you thatlI am pledged to another.” ‘To Geoffrey Huntress?” Everet Mapleson demanded, hoarsely. ) “Yes, to Geoffrey,” she repeated, with a tender intona- tion of the name that betrayed how dear it was to her. At this confession the young man dropped the hand _ that he had clung toin spite of her efforts to release it, as if it had been a coal of fire, all the evil in his nature aroused by this triumph of his enemy over him. “That low-born beggar!” he hissed.- a Sir had He shrank for an instant beneath the word as if she had smitten him. Then his passion swept all before it once more. “He has opposed and thwarted me from the first mo-. ment of our meeting. He offered me an indignity once, ~ which I have never forgotten or forgiven; he has robbed - me of my honors at college and now he has robbed me of you! J—hate—him! and he shall yet feel the force of my hatred in a.way to make him wish that he had never crossed my path.” CHAPTER XVIII. A LONG AND INTERESTING CONVERSATION: It is impossible to convey any idea of the anger, malice, and venom contained in these fiercely uttered words, and before Gladys could collect herself sufficiently to make any reply—before she was even aware of his intention— he had sprung past her and disappeared within the hall, GOmMmIiGcoDoo Ss (E(0) =}