The Illegal Marriage — page 182: what you’re looking at

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

174 THE ILLEGAL MARRIAGE. was only just to say, however, that this young man knew nothing of her intentions, and had been greatly shocked when he heard of the murder. He had done all that could have been expected of him since her incarceration; but no one could blame him now for considering his engagement canceled. Naturally enough, Miss Morgan stated that her father committed suicide in a fit of insanity; but the coroner’s jury, composed of respectable citizens —fathers themselves, had not found the evidence strong enough to sustain this conclusion. They had no intention of prejudging the case, or of prejudicing the public mind in advance of the legal investigation; but an examination of the facts destroyed entirely the suicide hypothesis. Some startling facts, it was hinted, would be developed at the trial. Miss Morgan was ignorant of all this. Several days had now been passed in her little prison room, and Stannard took good care to keep these papers from her; but he chafed under this comment, and set his teeth hard together in his impotent rage. The comments of the Fort Valley paper upon the indictment were particularly exasperating; and Stannard threw the paper on the floor, vowing to “chastise that man Cherry, preacher or no preacher.” The article in question was one of those which condemn severely behind the safeguard of “they say,” or “it is reported,” the writer putting his own malice upon the public in this way, to avoid per- sonal responsibility. But a little reflection convinced Stannard that he could do nothing. Anything like the use of violence to redress her wrongs would ultimately get to Cecy’s ears, and reflect, in a manner, on her. “This is one of the glorious prerogatives of a free press,” he muttered, kicking the paper away from him; “itis a great thing to be able to abuse an innocent girl without fear of the law—protected by the law, even from personal chastisement.” These days of waiting were very far from being as tedious to Miss Morgan as her friends had Ssup- cComicboo <S (Efe)