The Illegal Marriage — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

THE ILLEGAL MARRIAGE. 129 now Mrs. Guerry—and I don’t think he ever recov- ered from the shock her marriage gave him.” “J asked to find out if she was predisposed to insanity.” “Oh; no, not at all.” | “Then I have no fears for her. She has received a terrible shock, and lies in a state of lethargy. A blow upon the head could not have produced a more complete torpor of the mental faculties.” “Is that common?” “It is to such natures as hers. She may remain so several days; but will gradually come out of it. The main thing is to keep her from all excitement. Until fully restored she should not hear a word about last night.” | “We must keep the servants from talking about it to her.” For some time they rode on in silence. Stannard was greatly troubled by the position in which he was placed, and longed to tell his friend the secret of the letter. At length he resolved to do so, and made a clean breast of it, revealing nothing but the fact of his sending money in the letter. Pierce thought the matter over without speaking. “One thing is clear to my mind, Stannard, it’s your duty not to let that poor girl suffer by conceal- ing this fact.” “But what can I do, Ham? If lam the means of bringing trouble upon him, she would think it very hard. Youdon’t know her—she is the most gener- ous, the kindest, best-hearted girl that I ever saw.” “Why did younever——” “There, there, Ham,” interrupted Stannard, “I know what you are going to ask; but that is impos- sible now. I’m sure that she loves Guerry, and any trouble to him would break her heart.” “But, think a minute, Stannard; suppose he is not worthy of her. If he was concerned in this, in any way, it should be known. I must say that cir- cumstances are against him. I never saw Guerry but once, and then I did not like him at all.” “Trippe does not like him either; but I never Comicboo “S (Ele)