Geoffrey's Victory by Mrs Georgie Sheldon — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

St A CONFESSION. satisfy me so well as to have you become more closely allied to me, and thus cement even more strongly the bonds that already unite us.” “But,” Geoffrey began, then stopped short, a burning flush rising tothe roots of his hair, although his heart: had thrilled with jcey to every word his uncle had uttered. ‘Well, out with it; surely you are not going to argue against your Own cause, when you can have everything your own way--that is, as faras I am concerned,” Mr. Huntress said, laughingly. ‘“But I wish you to consider the matter in all its bear- ings,” the young man responded, very seriously. ‘“ You must not forget that you are utterly ignorant of my parentage. I may even be the child of some unfortunate woman, that was cast adrift in ordér to conceal the story of her shame. If we should ever make such a discovery, and you should then regret having given me my heart’s desire, it might make misery for us all in the future.” “Geoffrey,” August Huntress responded, in just as serious atone, “I confess that sucha discovery would pain me exceedingly, but-more on your account than my own. Still, if I knew at this moment that you eould honor- ably call no man father, if I knew that your mother had committed an irremediable error, it conld not detract from my affection for you nor my pride in you. I hope, however, if such is the story of your origin, that you will never know it. The name that I have given vou will be sufficient to aid you to an honorable position in the world; it is your character, what vou are yoarself, that is chiefly to be considered, and I could give you Gladvs— provided she was willing to give herself to you—without a demur. Heaven bless you, Geoff! Go and win your bride, if you can !” He held out his hand as he concluded, and Geoffrey seized it in a transport of joy. “Uncle August, you are a royal gentleman,” he cried, earnestly ; ‘‘and now you have crowned all your past good- ness to me with this great, this priceless gift, I am the happiest fellow in Christendom !” “Well, then, don’tcome to me with any more con-. | fessions,” returned his companion, jecosely, though there were tearsin his eyes. “I declare my blood actually ran eold when I looked into your solemn face and thought, perhaps, you had been sent home from college in dis- grace for some unheard of misdemeanor. Still,” he added, more seriously, “I might have known better, for comicbaoolk