Darke Darrell, the Boy Detective — page 189: what you’re looking at

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

180 DARKE DARRELL. His face shone with gratification, and tears trickled down his cheeks. Darke caught his hand and pressed it. The preliminaries of partnership were settled and the papers signed. Darke laughingly observed that the name of the firm should be ‘‘ Darke Darrell & Father,” inasmuch as he had taken the old gentleman into the business. Mrs. Darrell received her husband with kindness; and when she saw how gentlemanly he was, and how thorough his reformation, much of her old fondness for him re- turned. A year went by and the new firm prospered. Mr. Pedro Cassandra, his wife, and Leotine, went to Italy again. Darke corresponded with Leotine, but had not heard from her for six months, a remissness which troubled him a good deal. | | Sx Had she found some one whom she loved better? Had she been forced to accept some suitor designated by her father? | Three more months went by, then Darke received the other surprise at which we hinted. 2 A lady entered the counting-house. She was dressed in deep mourning, and was closely vailed. She asked to see _ Mr. Darrell, and was conducted to the desk of Mr. John Darrell. ‘““T beg pardon,” she said, not removing her vail, her voice low and sweet; ‘‘this is not the Mr. Darrell I wished to see.” ‘“Oh, my son, you mean,” said Mr. Darrell, senior. ‘He will be here in a few moments. Pray be seated.” * She took a chair, feeling a little bewildered. She had never heard Darke say anything about his father. ‘““A nice old gentleman,” was her mental comment. She said, aloud: ‘‘ Your son, sir, if his name is Darke Darrell.” “That it is, madam. Ah, here he comes.” Gomicbooks.co mm