Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 278: what you’re looking at

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

274 FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS. A heavy sigh, that was almost a sob, burst from him, though it was one of joy instead of sorrow. ‘‘A fortune could not purchase these from me,” he said, look- ing up with moist eyes, while he reverently laid back in their place the priceless treasures he had found. A spasm of pain contracted Colonel Mapleson’s face at his words, for he could well understand the feeling that lay behind them, aud he could not fail to realize, too, something of the questionable position which his boy had ocenpied all his life. He was very grave and thoughtful, and Mr. Huntress, as he watched him, could see that he was struggling with some weighty matter that lay upon his conscience. At length he lifted his head, with a quick, resolute motion, showing that he had settled it, whatever it was. ‘‘Mr. Huntress and Geoffrey,” he said, glanciag from one to the other; ‘‘I have a long story to tell you, and a hard one, too, for not a soul in the world save you two and the clergyman whe performed the ceremony really knows that I was ever married before the present Mrs. Mapleson became my wife. I am bound to tell this story not only to you, but also to her; that, as you cannot fail to understand, will be the hardest part of my con- fession.” Both his listeners sympathized with him deeply. They could easily perceive how humiliating it would be to this prond man to make such a disclosure to his wife after having deceived her for more than a score of years; vet both knew that it was an act of justice which should be performed in order that Geoffrey might be acknowledged asason and heir, and thus attain his proper position in the world. “ft is a painful story, too,” the colonel went on, ‘‘for Geof, frey. I loved your mother with ail the strength of my nature— as aman loves but once in his life—and when [ lost her the world became a blank to me, while eren vow it 1s almost more than [can bear to speak of it. [cannot tear the wound open and live over all that experience more than once, and if von do not object, I would like Mrs. Mapleson to be present while I make my:confession.” Mr. Huntress urged him to act according to his own wishes in the matter. As far as he was concerned Mrs. Mapleson’s presence would make no difference, unless the situation should prove to be too trying for her. “She must know it within a few hours at the farthest, and it will also be necessary for her to meet vou; so it might as well be done at once. What do you say, Geoffrey?’ Colonel Mapleson asked, turning to his son. “Do just what you think will be for the best, sir,” he replied; and his father immediately arose ana left the room. - “Estelle,” hes said, going into his wife’s boudoir, where she gat, handsome and stately, reading the latest magazine, comiclooolks Co 28