Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 190: what you’re looking at

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

186 : AN UNEXPECTED MEETING. killed you, and I’d never see you again; but poor mant he’d never have lifted his hand against youif he’d been himself. Heaven pity him! wherever he is, if he’s living at all.” She had rambled on in this disconnected way without even waiting for a reply to any of her questions, and Geoffrey felt the tears rise to his eyes, as he realized something of the burden that lay so heavy on her heart, and had made the long, long years so dreary and oppres- give to her. | He dismounted from his horse, and taking her by the arm, said, gently: “Come back to the rock, Margery, where you were sit- ting, and I will tell youall you wish to know. Itis a long story, and you will be weary with standing.” She looked up appealingly. “One word, Master Geoffrey. Jack——’ Her trembling lips refused to utter another word, and the young man thought he might as well tell her at once about her husband and set ner heart at rest. _ “Jack is living and well, and—within a mile of you at this very moment,” be said, in a cheerful tone. ‘“Oh, dearie! Heaven reward you for those blessed words,” Margery murmured; then her head sank upon her breast, and, tottering weakly forward, she dropped upon the rock where Geoffrey had first seen her, and fell to sobbing like a tired child. Geoffrey waited until she had grown somewhat calmer, and then told her, as briefly as he could, something of his own and Jack’s history during the last eighteen vears. She never interrupted him during the recital, but seemed to drink in every word, as one perishing from thirst would drink in pure, life-giving water. When at last he had told her all, she lifted her face, and, while she wiped the streaming tears from her eyes, she exclaimed : “Ah! Master Geoffrey, I feel almost asif [I was draw- ing nigh to heaven, after all the waiting, the wandering, the loneliness, and misery, to find my Jack again, and know that he has been true to his love for meall the time. Poor fellow! his fate has been harder than mine, after all. for he’s had to carry a burden of guilt with h'm; but it is all over now, thank Heaven! You will take me straight to him 2” she concluded, eagerly. “Of course I will,” Geoffrey replied, heartily, ‘‘he is waiting at the public house in the town for me; waiting 9 Comicdookks.c©