Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 296: what you’re looking at

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

992 - MRS. MAPLESONS CONFESSION. man fluently, for we had been faithful students, and fitted our: selves for teaching; both were self-reliant and courageous in spite of ony youth—our conflict with our unfavorable surround- ings had made us so—therefore we felt competent to travel by ourselves without a chaperon, who, we felt, would hamper our movements. Some of the time we had a guide, but in Euegland, France, and Germany we were able to go about quite inde- pendently. It was perhaps a daring thing to do, but Nellie was somewhat older than I, and very self-possessed and dignified in her bearing, and we never met with the shlehest ineon- venience from being without an escort. We had a very pleas- ant time together; we had plenty of money, and did not need to stint ourselves; Nell loved art, and I music, so for a vear we put ourselyes ander the best of masters, and gave ourselves up to these accomplishments, and had our fill, But I am getting somewhat ahead of my story. “While we were in London, a few months after reaching England, we met a literary gentlemen, a Mr. Charles Sontheonrt, who paid me considerable attention, and to whom I was very strongly attracted. We met often, too, npon the Continent, for ke, also, was traveling in search of material for his writings, and our routes frequently crossed each other. Finally, during my second year abroad, he confessed his affection for me, and asked me to marry him. He was brilliant, handscme, talented, but poor. Had he been rich I would not have hesitated a mo- ment, for I loved him; but I knew, far too well, what poverty was to be willing to relinquish my fortune and the handsome 1n- come it brought me, the luxuries and pleasures 1t yielded me, to say nothing of depriving my parents and sister of the con- forts and advantages thev were enjoying, and I refused him. He knew that I returned his affection—he had not dreamed of being rejected-—-and demanded the reason. I told him frankly. He then informed me that all pecuntary diffienity conld soon be removed, for there was a prospect of his soon receiving a re- sponsible appointment somewhere in the far East, which would secure him an ample income which, with what be shonld realize from his writings, would enable him to provide for the com- fortable support of my family, and secure to me every lnxury which my own fortune was then giving me. Would I become his wife if he secured this appointment? he asked. I told him yes, and I believe if it had not been for depriving my delicate and aged parents and sister of the comforts they were enjoying —if Thad only tad myself to consider, I should have willingly thrown up my fortune, and become kis wife, whether he secured the appointment or not. “Full of hope at having won my consent, Charlie returned at once to London—we were at that time in Rome—to bend all his e.ergies to secure his coveted position. ‘ITwo months later, Nellie and IT returned to Paris, where we were again joined by OTpniclooolks 3}