The Illegal Marriage — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

THE ILLEGAL MARRIAGE. 147 bered the meeting with her lover. It must have been Alfred they had seen. What if suspicion should fall upon him also? ~ Her heart nearly ceased beating at the thought. There seemed but one course for Cecy now—she must discredit the idea of murder—and her resolution was speedily taken. “JT can recall more now than I have been able to do at any time,” she said, presently, “and I am sure you are wrong. Poor papa did not know what he was doing, and was going to kill me at first. It was then I fainted. When I opened my eyes again I was sure he had been stabbing himself. William, I feel certain that papa killed himself after he thought that he had killed me.” “It may be you are right, Cecy. Weare doing all we can to clear up the matter. Iam going to send for a detective.” Gatrey do not—I had rather you would not do that.” “Why not, Cecy? Why should we not try to save you from this dreadful trial?” : “Because an innocent person might be suspected.” A deep blush suffused her face, and Stannard understood her motive. “T knew she would do that,” he thought; “I was certain of it when I withheld that letter.” He yielded to her then, but foresaw a time to come when he could find no excuse for so doing. Cecy wept freely when he told her of the verdict, of the constable’s presence, and that she had to go to Perry until the matter could be settled. But one thing kept her spirits up, and that was the thought that she was to suffer for the sake of shielding her lover. All her tears were for him, and her heart ached as she thought of his sorrow when he heard of her arrest for this dreadful crime. Stannard could not bear her grief, and walked to the window; but in a moment returned to her side and rested his hand upon her chair. “Cecy, trust me now, will you not? Rely on me, and I will do for you all that I could do for my own sister. It will all come right in the end.” Gomicbook