The Illegal Marriage — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

134 THE ILLEGAL MARRIAGE. paper fell upon the table, while the deathly paleness of his face was relieved by acrimson flush. His heart began to beat more freely. For the moment he felt happier than he had been for many hours. : Was it owing to the natural wickedness of his heart, or to the weakness of his mind, that he felt a sense of joy when he read the verdict of the coroner’s jury? Let us judge him as kindly as we can, pitying him for his weakness. He had feared the arrest of old Hawks, knowing that it would be ruin; but now there was a hope that he might get the old outlaw away. “T must get him away—it is a matter of life and death to me,” Guerry said to himself; “but how am I to raise the money. Money! Whata cursed thing it is to have none.” Like many men in his condition, Guerry called upon Heaven to aid him, trying to make a compact with his Creator, that, if money was given him now, he would never sin again. “Tt would all be over if I could get him out of the way,” he thought, bitterly. “They cannot prove anything against Cecy, and she loves me well enough to bear atrial tosaveme. If she knew all I know she would say so. I will repay her by and by for all the trouble that she has.” His ideas of compensation were vague, indeed, but he could safely promise for the future if he could get present help. At that moment Stannard’s letter caught his eye, and he hastily broke the seal. Two or three times he read one clause, and for some time he sat dreaming over it. Here was a chance of escape—could he avail himself of it? His evil genius whispered words of hope in his ear that were very sweet, and he turned a deaf ear to the good angel, even then trying to draw him away. With his usual amount of forethought, Guerry made up his mind to take advantage of the oppor- tunity that had been thrown in his way; and, pene his breakfast untouched, hurried to his OM1Ce, | oS (ele) comicbooks