A Final Triumph; or, A Lady Bachelor — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

RIFTINGS. | 141 ** Which was my father?’’ ‘* The gentleman of fair and noble reputation; the man who, when he bequeathed a fortune to his son, left with the inheritance the record of a noble manhood. Your father’s character was above reproach. No man left a more stainless reputation. His was a noble life cut off in the midst of its promise.”’ ‘* Give me time,’” murmured George; ‘‘ let me think; let me ask—do I correctly understand you?’’ ee ‘* There was no act in my father’s life the memory of which would bring the blush of shame?’’ ‘* Your father was a pure and noble man; his repu- tation was untarnished. I speak the truth—I can not speak in plainer language. Shall I tell you all about it??? ** Yes.* ** ‘Your father was the third owner by inheritance in a direct line of the estate which is now yours. Your father met a Miss Edicott at an inauguration ball in Washington; later he made the lady his wife; they went South to live. An old feud existed between the family of Everest and another old family in your father’s native State. When you were a year old your father fell a victim to this feud in a duel; your mother was stricken almost unto death. When she recovered, she took her child and fled North to her native town. She resolved to keep from you forever the knowledge of your parentage, lest when you grew to be a man, you should also become a victim in seeking to avenge your father’s death. ‘This fear became to her a ” Gomichbooks (E(0)