Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 310: what you’re looking at

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

306 AN UNEXPECTED RETURN. “fT have no doubt of it, sir,” returned Mr. Huntress; “but eould she not better bear the disappointment than to have her child made unhappy, aiter all these years of content, by learning that those who have hitherto oceupied the place of father and mother are nothing to her by the ties of blood? She has not a suspicion of the truth, and I am confident that no one, save Doctor Turner and ourselves, has the slightest knowledge of it, so that it never need he revealed. Mrs. Mapleson promised solemnly never to claim her, under any circumstances; she gave her unreservedly to us, and I cannot feel willing to have our re- lations ected: As far as auy proverty which she might in- herit from your wife is concerned, [ would not give it a moment’s consideration. I have an abundance, and Gladys will have it ail by and by. I did intend to make a division between my two children,” turning with a smile to the young man by his side, ‘“‘but since Geoffrey is now so rich, he will not need it. How- ever, if will amonnt to about the same thing 1 the end, as they will soon have all things in common, I trust.’ “Ah! ig that 802” Colonel Mapleson inquired, with a brilliant smile and a nod at his son. “Tt hope so,” Geoffrey answered; ‘‘and f, too, think it would be wiser to keep the truth regarding Gladys’ birth still a secret. Its reveletion can do no one, save Mrs. Mapleson, the least pos- sible good, and I doubt if even she would not regret a disclosure that would result in so much unhappiness to others.” ‘‘T believe you are right,” Colonel Mapleson said, after think- ing it over for a few moments. “I reckon it would be the better plan to allow things to remain just as they are.” ‘“{ beg you will not consider me selfish or unfeeling in this matter,” said Mr. Huntress, earnestly, but greatly relieved by this decision. ‘I sy mpathize deeply with Mrs. Mapleson, but I feel that she conld not suffer a tithe of what my wife and deughter would endure to have their relations disturbed, not to mention my own feelings in the matter.” ‘T understand,” his host responded, heartily, ‘‘and I know it is but right and just that the one should vield in order that the many may ke happy, and I believe that mv wife will see it in the same light when she comes to consider it. But,” turning again to Geoffrey, ‘‘when is this wedding toéoeccnr?”’ The young man colored and glanced at Mr. Huntress, for he hardly ‘knew what to say in reply to this. ‘Well, I—the day is not set yet. I was anxious to have my relations with yourself settled, and--we—— It was an unusual occurrence for Geoffrey Huntress to lose his self-possession under any circumstances, but just then he felt himself to be in a very painful position, for every moment he shrank more and more from revealing his half-brother’s wretched plot, and he was greatly relieved by a little stir in the hall at that moment, which attracted Colonel Mapleson’s attention from him. comicloookks.€