Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 282: what you’re looking at

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

278 COLONEL MAPLESON’S STORY. his wonderful resemblance to Everet, she began to suspect some- thing of the nature of her hushand’s confession. ‘Tt is the strangest thing in tne world,” she thought, as she turned ber eyes upon Mr. Huntress, and realized who his chil- dren, by adoption, were. ‘“Itis the strangest thing in the world,” was echoed in Mr. Huntress’ brain, as he met her glance, and, with a sudden heart- throb of joy, realized something that she did not. ‘| will go back-as far as my boyhood,” Colonel Mapleson re- sumed. ‘‘You have heard me say, Estelle, that I was in the habit of visiting Vue de |’Eau, often sperding weeks and somes times months with Uncle Jabez when I was a boy. I think I could not have been more than twelve, when, during one of those visits, I became acquainted with a young girl just about my own age, who resided near here with her mother. I refer to Annie Dale.” Mrs. Mapleson gave a violent start at this; a light broke over her face, which instantly became crimson, then grew as suddenly white. ‘‘We became very fond of each other,” her husband pro- ceeded, without noticing her emotion, ‘‘and we were together day after day, week after week, plaving ball, hoop, battledore and shuttlecock, sailing our boats together on the stream which feeds the pond that used to run the old mill, riding horseback together—in fact, were scarcely separated from the beginning of my stay until its end. It was always the same every time Ll came; [ always sought my charming little companion on the day of my arrival, and gave her my last good-by when I went away. “This went on for several years, until I grew to love her with all the strength of my young heart, aud I fondly believed she returned my affections, although she was so modest and shy that she never betraved it, at least after she grew to womanhood, save by evincing pleasure and a sort of trustful content in my society. ‘There came atime when I resolved to confess my feelings toward her and learn if possible if she returned them, but before the time for my visit arrived that year, Uncle Jabez died and everything was changed. ‘This uncle,” said Colonel Mapleson, glancing from Mr. Huntress to Geoffrey, ‘‘made a very singular will—a very arbitrary and unnatural will. He divided the whole of his property, which was very large, into two portions, one of which he bequeathed to me, the other to bis niece, Miss Estelle Everet, who is now my wife—upon the condition that we would marry each other. He gave us until Miss Kveret would be twenty-five to make up our minds; if we both refused to co1n- ply with his wishes at the end of that time, and each married some one else, the whole fortune was to go to a certain Robert Dale, who was first cousin to our unele. If either of us died during that time, such an event would free the other party and COmiclbooOoks.€O 5}