Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 317: what you’re looking at

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

yet PEACE AT LAST. eee 3138 he consulted his sons about the matter. Geoffrey refused abso- lutely to be named in it, except simply to receive an affectionate remembrance from his father, and this attitude excited Everet’s wonder. | “Why do you do this?” he asked, coldly, and regarding his brother with suspicion. ‘You are my father’s elder son, and entitled to half of his fortune.” “{ do not wish it, believe me,” Geoffrey answered. ‘I have enongh as itis. J can never tell you,” he added, earnestly, ‘chow much more to me than fortune, or any other inheritance, is the xame that I can legally claim from our father. Let that be my share—indeed, I will not have anything else.” : Everet stood, thoughtful and silent, for several moments, Then, with an evident effort, he looked up in Geoffrey’s face, aud said: : ‘I know that you might have al, had you chosen to take it, and in that case J would have been a beggar. You have led me to believe—and not by this act alone, either—that there is at least one truly noble, unselfish man in the world. If you do not utterly despise me, will you henceforth recognize me as a friend?” He extended his hand as he spoke, but it shook visibly, and he was very pale. It had not been an easy thing for this proud young Southerner to make such a confession and appeal. Geoffrey grasped if warmly, lis manly face all aglow with sincere joy. ‘Not only my ‘friend,’ Everet, but, my brother, in name and in truth,” he answered, heartily; and thus a life-long bond was established between them, which strengthened with every suc- ceeding year, while the desire of Colonel Mapleson’s heart was granted him ere he closed his eyes upon all things earthly. A little later, Addie Loring, who during all this time had refused many an eager suitor, became the mistress of Vue de l’Ean, where she reigned the center of a happy and peaceful household. She often visited her girlhoad’s friend at the North, and enter- tained her, in turn, in her Southern home, where the elder Mrs. Mapleson was supremely centent in the presence of her child and grandchildren, even thongh they were ignorant that no eee bond save that of mutual love and sympathy united them. 3 Mr. and Mrs. Huntress were also very happy in their chil- dren, and lived many years to enjoy them—years which brought with them an ‘Old age serene and bright, And lovely as a Lapland niglt.” Mr. Huntzvess retired from active business soon after his ve- COnMIEOOOKS.EO) =}