Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

160 A THRILLING STORY. band have wished the name that he had given her also chiseled there? “Oh, if I could only know!” Geoffrey groaned within himself, as he bowed his head upon the stone, feeling completely baffled, and as if all trace must end here. “Was this woman my mother? She was something to William Dale, and William Dale is something to me, or he would never have betrayed so much emotion upon meeting me, and then fled from me. Was she his lawful wife? Am I her child, and had I honorable birth ? “Good heavens!” he added, aloud, ‘‘there must be fOMme way to solve these questions. Oh, if the Fates would but guide me to some one who could tell me how to unravel this mystery !” ‘Ahem! Well, youngster, I shouldn’t wonder if I was yerman. What’ll ye give to hear a prettier Jove-story than ever was writ?” a CHAPTER XXVI. A> THETLLON GasToek v.. Geoffrey started to his feet asif electrified, as these unexpected words fell upon his ears, and found himself face to face with a man of perhaps fifty years, his face seamed and browned by hardships and exposure, rough In appearance, uncouth in dress, and with an anxious, alert air about him, which conveyed the impression that he feared being identified and apprehended for some rea- son or other. “Who are you?” Geoffrey sternly demanded, for he knew that country was not the safest place in the world, and it flashed upon his mind that the man might be a robber, and had followed him there with some evil in- tent. “T’m all right. I’ve no wish to harm ye, sir,” was the reassuring response, as the new-comer appeared to read his thought, “and I guess it don’t matter much who I be, provided I can tell ye what ye seem to want to know about this here grave.” “No,” replied Geoffrey, his suspicions instantly van- ishing. “If you can give me the history of the poor lady who lies here, and tell .me where I[ can find the man who brought her here, I’Jl] pay you well, and ask no further comicaoolk