Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 159: what you’re looking at

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

GEOFFREY PICKS UP A THREAD. 155 “Geoffrey, surely you will do nothing to compromise yourself?” Gladys pleaded, anxiously. “No, dear, for your sake as well as my own, I will do , nothing to make myself disagreeably conspicuous. But he will not forget if I find my suspicions are true. You will say nothing to Uncle August or Aunt Alice regard- — ing this encounter, please, until after I have seen him.” ‘No, certainly not, if you prefer I should noé tell them,” Gladys readily promised. They turned to retrace their way to the hotel, both too much disturbed by the occurrence of the morning and by forebodings regarding the afternoon’s appointment, to care to prolong their stroll. They parted atthe ladies entrance, Gladys going up stairs to her mother’s apartments, where she tried to. busy herself with some fancy work until lunch time, | although her heart wasin a continual flutter of appre- ~ hension and miserable suspense, Geoffrey shut himself up in his own room, alone, fora season, but was too wretched to remain there inactive, and soon went out again. When the family went down to lincheon he was still absent, and his seat vacant. This was such an unprecedented occurrence that Mr. Huntress left the table to ascertain the reason. He soon returned with the information that Geoffrey had gone cut, but had left word with the clerk, in case inquiries should be made for him, that he might not be back for several hours. Mrs. Huntress glanced at Gladys as her husband made this report, but she gave no sign of either surprise or disappointment. She had noticed an unusual reserve and quietness about her, ever since her return from her walk, and a suspicion crossed her mind that perhaps there -might be some misunderstanding or lover’s quar- rel, that had caused this unwonted break in the family party. She kept her suspicions to herself, however, resolving to await further developments, It was after six o’clock when Geoffrev returned. Gladys was watching for him, at one end of the veranda, and sprang from the chair to go to meet him, as he came up the steps and then stopped short as she caught sight of his face. It was as colorless as marble, and there was a_ look in his eye that actually made her tremble. Eomicbooks (E(0)