Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 309: what you’re looking at

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

AN UNEXPECTED RETURN. 805 “T could not take anything from this estate, sir,’ Geoffrey said, suddenly growing crimson. ‘Why not?” questioned his father. ‘Because you married contrary to the conditions of your uncle’s will, so, in that case, 1 do not feel that I have any real right to any of it. If your marriage had been discovered, you would have had to forfeit all to your cousin, Miss Everet,” ‘You are very conscientious,” replied Colonel Mapleson, gravely. Then he suddenly looked up, with a wise smile. “It has not oceurred to you, I perceive,” he added, ‘‘that you conld claim every dollar that Mrs. Mapleson and I pos- sess. We both violated the conditions of that will; cunse- quently, our fortunes rightly belonged to Robert Dale, and you, being his only heir, would inherit it all.” Geoffrey looked amazed at this. Such a thought had not occurred to him; but now he could not fail to see the force of his father’s argument. “T do not want it—I could not take it; I shall have more than enough from what will come to me from my mother,” he said. ‘There are few people in the world who would not take all they could get,” replied Colonel Mapleson, feeling a certain pride in this noble renunciation of his son. ‘‘But, taking everything into consideration, it seems to me that matters are somewhat complicated with us. I suppose Mrs Mapleson’s daughter—your adopted child, Mr. Huntress—will come in for her share of her mother’s property.” August Huntress finshed. A painful struggle had been going on in his mind ever since his meeting with Mrs. Mapleson. He conld not endure, for a moment, the thought of ever having Gladys know anything about her birth, She fully be- lieved herself to be Mr. and Mrs. Huntress’ own child, and he knew it would be a rude shock to her to learn that she was not, anil to be told the facts regarding her parentage, and he meant to prevent it if he could. ‘Colonel Mapleson,” he said, speaking very serionsly, “I hope that Gladys will never learn that she is not really my child; L never wish her to receive anything from Mrs. Maple- son.”’ The colonel’s face fell. He knew that his wife’s heart was yearning after her child; at the same time, he could understand and appreciate Mr, Huntress’ sensitiveness upon the snbject; while, too, the young girl could not fail to be painfully shocked upon learn- ing the sad, even cruel, history connected with her birth. “IT think it would be a great disappointment to my wife not to be allowed to claim the relationship,” he replied, thoughtfully. (CCO)AN) (loo) S ( 3