Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 315: what you’re looking at

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

PEACE AT LAST. 311 of his father’s firm and lasting affection, and Mrs. Mapleson’s respect and friendship, together with the handsome fortune which he had inherited from Robert Dale, and which Colonel Mapleson had trausferred to him. . It had been agreed by all parties that Gladys should never be told the secret of her parentage, although Mrs. Mapleson had wept bitterly when she consented to remain all her life unrecognized by the child for whom her heart yearned inex- pressibly. She could but acknowledge, ae, OS that it would be for her daughter’s happiness, and she was willing to sacrifice her own feelings to secure that. She had been greatly shocked upon learning of Everet’s wretched plot, and the narrow escape he had had from com- mitting a fearful crime, and she had pleaded with Geoffrey, when parting with him, to forgive her son for the injury he had done him, saying she felt sure that he would deeply regret it, when he fully came to himself. Geoffrey assured her of his full and free pardon, and actually expressed the hope that he and his half-brother might some . time come to regard each other, at least with a ivan if not with brotherly, affection. His return was a very joyous one. Gladys had been assured by her father, long before this, that she was free; that no tie bound her to Everet Mapleson; that the events which had occurred upon the night set for the wed- ding had been simply a farce, the result of fraud of the worst type, which rendered the ceremony illegal. She was almost like her old, bright self when Geoffrey ar- rived, although not quite sostrong as formerly, for she had suf- fered a fearful shock, and it was not surprising that its effects should yet be visible. Only a few. days after Geoffrey’s return, Mr. Huntress’ beloved pastor and his wife were invited to dine with the fam- ily, and later in the evening, when the servants were all below —everything having been confidentially explained to the rev- erend gentleman previous to his visit—Geoffrey and Gladys stood up in the drawing-room and were quietly made one, while only those who were acquainted with the private history of the young couple ever knew of this second ceremony, their fashion- able friends and the world ali believing that the real marriage had occurred at the time of the brilliant wedding before de- scribed. No one was surprised that the European trip was postponed until warmer weather. ‘*A sea voyage in tle dead of winter was a thing to be dreaded; besides, Mr. and Mrs. Huntress had finally decided to brace up their courage and go with them, if they would wait until spring.’ They sailed about the middle of May, and had an unusually Gomichbooksnco