Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 274: what you’re looking at

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

‘ 270 GEOFFREY LEARNS THE TRUTH AT LAST. Mr. Huntress had insisted upon accompanying the young man, for he was determined that full justice should be duue the boy whom he had reared and loved as his own son. If Colonel Mapleson had wronged his mother he should at least tell the story kindly and courteously to her child; if he lad inherited anything from her it would be his business to see that he had his rights. The weary travelers reached Richmond late one afternoon. They found that Vue de l’Hau—Colonel Mapleson’s estate—was along distance from the city, and they would be obliged to hire some conveyance thither. This was not an easy thing to accomplish, for the night prom- ised to be very dark, the roads were muddy, and the weather unusually cold for that genial climate. But by offering a gener- ous sum, for he was anxious to have the ordeal before tlem over as soon as possible, Mr. Huntress succeeded in getting a man to take them to their destination. It was seven o’clock when they at last reached the home of the proud Southerner, and the two men alighted before the door with grave faces, and nerves that were none too steady, in rontemplation of the interview before them. | “Yes, sar, Massa Mapleson’s home, sah,” the dusky-skinned servant replied to Mr. Huntress’ inquiry, and then obseqniously led the way through the magnificent hall, which divided the stately mansion throngh the center, to a spacious and richly furnished library at its lower end. “A.D. Huntress and Son,” Mr. Huntress wrote on a card, and handed it to the servant to be given to his master, and then they sat down to await his coming. Five minutes later—thongh it seemed as many hours to those impatient meu—Colonel Mapleson appeared in tlie door-way, opposite August Huntress. He was a tall, rather spare man, with a finely shaped head proudly poised above a pair of military looking shoulders, a massive brow, surmounted by a wealth of iron-gray hair, regu- lar, handsome, yet rather haughty features, a keen, eagle- glancing blue eve, and an energetic manner. Geoffrey recognized him instantly. It was the same man whom he had met in Congress Park at Saratoga. “Ah! Mr. Huntress,” remarked the gentleman, courteously, as his visitor arose to greet him; ‘‘glad to see you, sir—glad to see you!” Then espying Geoffrey whom, having been seated on his right and a little back of him as he entered, he had not at first seen, he started, his face lighted with pleasure, and he went toward him with outstretched hand, exclaiming, heartily: ‘‘Holloa! Everet! where on earth did you drop from? I sup- posed you still in New York having a gay time.”’ Mr. Huntress came forward at this, saying: comiclooolks 3 a SS eee eee