Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 284: what you’re looking at

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

280 COLONEL MAPLESON'S STORY. when Annie grew older, they opened a small private school, and, having succeeded in securing all the pupils they could accom- modate, they declined receiving further aid from him. They lived very poorly and meagerly, however, and it galled me to see their poverty; so, upon coming into possession of the estate, I took advantage of their absence on a visit at one time, and had the cottage thoroughly repaired and newly furnished in a style to suit myself. Mrs. Dale was almost inclined to be angry with me for this, saying it was far too elegant for their position in life; but the deed was done, and [ laughingly told her it was only a poor return for all the trouble I had given her as a boy, when I tracked her spotiess floors with my muddy boots, and depleted her Jarder with my rapacious appetite, as, day after day, I shared Annie’s lunch. “But [am getting away from the temptation of which I be- gan telling you, which came to me aiter I had been three vears in the mines. Annie’s mother died very suddenly after an ill- ness of only a week, and I did not learn of the fact for nearly two months afterward. I wrote at once to Aunie, begging her to choose some elderly companion and remain where she was— to consider the cottage still her home and accept aid from me until I could return and make some permanent arrangement for her. I told myself that if I could only keep her there in seclu- sion for a couple of years longer, [ shonld then be in a position to return and ask her to become my wife. But ina cool, digni- fied letter she refused my request, telling me that her plans for the future were already made, and that she was on the eve of leav- ing for Richmond, where she was going to remain with an old nurse, until she could obtain a position as governess in some family. “For a week after receiving this letter I fought a terrible bat- tle with myself. I could not endare the thought of that delicate girl going out in the world to toil for the bread she ate. On the other hand, if I yielded to my own desire, and asked her to murry me, 1t would doom her to a life of hardship almost as severe, for I could only make over my share of Uncle Jabez’s fortune to my cousin at a sacrifice that would leave me almost a beggar. I could not forcea sale of mining interests without losing nearly all that I had made during the last three years. I was nearly distracted, and I imagined a thousand evils and dangers that might result from Annie becoming a governess, Not only would such a life bea burdensome and disagreeable one, but, worse than that, she was liable to meet some one who would be attracted by her beauty and sweetness—some one who would win her, and thus I should lose her. “The thought was unbearable, and J resolved upon a desper- ate measure. I wrote again to her, confessing my love--that I had always loved her, and begging her to come to me and share my life in the West. I told ber that I would gladly give up comiclooolks S|