Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 188: what you’re looking at

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

184 AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. am only a woman on my way home from town, and sat down here to rest for a moment.” ‘““T beg your pardon, madame, for accosting youas [ did,” Geoffrey returned, apologetically, ‘‘but I confess I was startled, as well as my horse, for a moment. Are you not afraid to be traveling this lonely way at this time of the evening ?” ‘‘No, sir, I am not afraid. I know every step of the road, buf [am notso young as Iwas once, and it tires me to walk,” the woman replied, with a weary note in her voice, accompanied by a heavy sigh. “Have you far to go?” the young man asked. “No, only to the second house from here—to Farmer Bruce’s.” ' “Ah! You are going to Mr. Bruce’s. I have just come from there. I will turm about and see yeu safely to the house; or, if you could manage to sit on a man’s saddle, you shall ride, and [ will lead my horse,” Geoffrey said, kindly; for now that he had been accustomed to the dim light he could discern that the woman looked worn and weary, and his sympathies were enlisted for her. ‘*No, no; thank you, sir, I will not trouble you,” the woman returned. “But tell me,” she continued, rising and coming toward his side, “igs Farmer Bruce still alive? Is the family well?” Something in her anxious tone and her agitated man- ner, as well as these questions, sent a sudden thrill through the young man’s heart. He bent and looked searchingly into her face, which was upraised to his. “Yes, Farmer Bruce is living. You said you were on your way home. Do you belong to the family?” he asked. “ No—I—I used to live near them; I have come for a visit,” was the confused reply. Geoffrey bent still nearer to her, when the woman sud- denly uttered a startled cry, and laid her hand upon his arm. “Oh, sir! who are vou?” shecried. “IT amsure vou must be Master Geoffrey. You areso like your father. I should know you anywhere. and I never could forget the bov Lloved. You are Geoffrey, aren’t you? and don’t you remember— Margery 2” She ended with a sob, and her hold tightened on his arm as if she feared to lose him. Geoffrey had half-suspected her identity when she had CoOMmicbdookks.c@