Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

EVERET MAKES A NEW ACQUAINTANCE. 141 *T believe I will take a Western trip,” he suddenly said, One-mornulng, ailer having read in his paper an _ Interesi- - ing’ account of a certala route taken by a party of travelers going to California and the Yosemite Valley. Acung upon the impulse of the moment, he packed his portinauteau, dashed off a few lines to his mother 1n- forming her of his project, and was westward bound be- fore noon. lie reached Chicago the second morning after starting, and took a room at the Palmer House, to rest for a few days while he was deciding what direction he would take from that point. The following day, after a good night’s sleep and a fine breakfast, he strolled into the smoking-room with a morning paper to idle away an hour or so and read the ~— news. There were several people in the room, but he paid no attention to them more than to cast a sweeping glance around; then, seating himself by a window, he lighted a cigar and was soon buried in the contents of his paper. He looked through one half of it, and then laid it aside, taking up the other, when a deep, gruff voice just behind him remarked : “Tsay, stranger, could you spare a part of that there paper? I’ve read yesterday’s Inter-Ocean about through, and would like something a trifle fresher.” Everet turned to see who was addressing him, and found a man, every bit as rough looking as his voice had sounded, sitting near him. He was evidently a miner or ranger, but had an honest, open face which at once attracted the young Southerner. He passed him that portion of his paper which he had read, receiving his brief thanks with a courteous bow, and then resumed his interrupted reading. He sat there for perhaps an hour longer, until he grew tired of keeping stili, and was contemplating going out for a stroll, when the man addressed him again : “TI take it you’rea stranger in these parts,” he re- marked, with a keen, comprehensive glance over the young man. “Yes, Iam from the South,” Everet replied, politely. “Travelin? for pleasure ?” - ‘““Y-e-s—partly.” ‘‘Any special route laid out?” “No; I thought I'd like to see something of the far West. I think I shail visit the principal cities on my Eomicbooks |