Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

E VERET MAKES A STARTLING DISCOVERY. 151 i Monaense: ; don’t try to play such a joke on me— I’ve known you tuo many years for you to palm your- self olf as any one else,” returned the gentleman, laugh- ingly, while he shot an amused glance at the young man’s Couipanion, as if he suspected that she was the cause of his Wishing to remain incog. ‘‘{ assure you, su, [am speaking the truth. I am not Everet Mapleson,” Geofirey reiterated. ) The stranger’s face grew suddenly overcast. “Then who in thunder are you?” he demanded, in shar p, excited accents. ‘““My name is Geotirey Dale Huntress, at your aseeton sir,” Geofirey responded, courteousiy, although he had flushed hotly at the curt question. “ Geoffrey Dale! Good heavens!” cried the man, shrink- — ing back as if he had been dealt a violent blow, and grow- | ing deathly pale. (seofirey himself turned white at this. He was ever on the alert to gain some knowedge of his parentage, and this man’s strange manner made him think that perhaps he might know something of his early his- tory. “Yes, sir; I perceive that the name afiects -you strangely. Did you ever hear it before?” he asked, earnestly, searching the stranger’s face. ‘‘Ah—years ago—a friend—excuse me—I am very much overcome,” the man murmured, incoherently, as he stag- gered to a rustic bench near by, where, sinking upon it and bowing his head upon his hands, he groaned aloud. Geoffrey stood transfixed, his face plainly betraying anxiety, dread, and perplexity, while he was inwardly se excited over this strange meeting that Gladys, as she — leaned upon his arm, could feel him trembling in every limb. “Will you explain yourself, sir?” Geoffrey said at length, and feeling that the silence and mystery were be- coming intolerable. “Do you know aught of me—of- any person named Dale ?” | The gentleman shivered, as if the question. had jurred upon some sensitive chord. “Yes,” he answered, after a moment of hesitation, while he lifted a haggard face to his questioner ; ; “years ago I had a friend by that name; but—but—— “Will you relate the history of that friend to me?” oerey asked, with white lips, and speaking with an eiiort. (E(0) miGcodoo S (E(0) =}