Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 311: what you’re looking at

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

’ AN UNEXPECTED RETURN. 397 The next instant the library door was flung open, and Everet, himself, pale and travel-stained, stood before the astonished roup. ave fal” he cried, catching sight of Geoffrey. ‘‘So you have stolen a march on me! trying, I suppose, to browbeat the gover- nor into confessing that romantic liaison of his youth.” ‘*Hveret !” exclaimed his father, turning sternly upon him, an angry fiush mounting to his brow, at this rude intrusion; ‘‘what do you mean by rushing in here like this, addressing my gnests in such an abrupt way, not to mention your exceedingly disre- | pectful language regarding myself?” ‘Your guesis! Why don’t you present them to me, or are you atrifie delicate about introducing Annie Dale’s son to me?” re- torted the young man, in a nervous, unnatural manner. “Silenee, sir!’ thundered Colonel Mapleson, looking perfectly aghast at this strange behavior on the part of his usually court- eous son. ‘‘What do you know of Annie Dale?” he continued; “and why do you speak of this young man in that sneering way?” “T know a great deal about Annie Dale and the suspicions life she led in a certain mining district for a year,” Everet re- torted, with reckless scorn. He had been wrought to the highest pitch of angry excite- ment by finding Geoffrey and Mr. Huntress there before him, “T know,” he went on, ‘Show she was enticed away by the promise of a marriage which never took place, and how she afterward died—doubtless of a broken heart—leaving a name- less brat to inherit her shame.” ‘‘Kiveret! you have suddenly taken leave of your senses! [ believe you are in the delirium of fever,” returned his father, regarding his now flushed face and glittering eves with alarm. ‘But have-a care over your words. How on earth you have be- come possessed of such strange notions is more than I can ac- count for.” ‘‘T ean easily enlighten you. I havea couple of letters in my possession that were written by Annie Dale’s lover, whieh will prove all that I have hinted at; and I found a very pretty ring, too, last summer, during my travels—not a wedding-ring, either, mind you. I doubt if she ever had that—which was lost on the very spot where she had lived and died.” He drew both letters and ring from one of his pockets, as he spoke, and finng them upon tlie table, before his father. Colonel Mapleson recognized them at once, while he was amazed by the fact of their being in the possession of his son, One of the letters he remembered losing after a visit to the cot- tage where his Annie had onee lived, and he had been greatly disturbed over the fact; but the other, and the ring—which his dear wife had lost one night while sitting on the poreh in their mountain home—he could uot understand how he came by them. OO KSn Gon \) 3