The Illegal Marriage — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

156 - THE ILLEGAL MARRIAGE. could not fail to recognize the portrait of old Hawks. A deathly pallor overspread his face, and he could not repress a shudder. Cecy was startled by the sudden change in him, and instinctively shrank from his side. For the first time there came into her heart a doubt of her own love. “ Alfred,” she said, “what is the matter? Do you know anything about it.” “Oh, no, no, Cecv; do you suppose I should let you suffer here if I did?” His voice was hoarse and shaking, but he took her hand and drew her nearer to him. “Don’t speak of that, Cecy; I cannot bear it. I feel as if your life was again menaced. Oh, why did I leave you that night?” His distress seemed real. Was it, indeed, for her that he trembled? His words reassured her, but never again could she forget the phantom whicn came between them at that moment. “Cecy,” he said at length, “what have you done about the estate?” “Nothing at all—what should I do?” “Some one must attend to it for you; have you appointed any one?” “IT have not once thought of it, Alfred. Don’t speak of that now.” It made his heart leap with joy when he heard that he was in time. “But it is necessary, Cecy,” he continued; “you must appoint a trustee to look out for your interests. You should do it at once.” “Can I appoint Colonel Stannard?” she asked, after a pause. “You can if you wish; but——” he knew not what to say. Would she defeat him after all? “But what, Alfred?” she asked, seeing his hesi- tation. “Tl fear he does not like me. To my face he is friendly enough, but behind my back I hear that he does not speak well of me.” : “Oh! Alfred! that cannot be. He isan honorable cComicbooks (Efe)