The Illegal Marriage — page 245: what you’re looking at

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

4 - t ~ f 3 ee “ , <= el 1 7 ae ~ r ee . ys. t 4 THE ILLEGAL MARRIAGE. 237 “There she remained until about a year ago, when she married a minister—a man of some property, and well thought of in the town where he lives. It is many miles from Milledgeville, Hawks, and you yl never find her unless you promise not to annoy er. “She thinks you are dead, Hawks! Would you go now and break up her happy home?” “No! no!” sobbed the old man; “just let me see her; only let me see her once more to beg her pardon for the past, and I’ll never see her again.” “He'll not have long to see her at best,” Trippe whispered; “he will not live a month.” “Who was it, doctor—who was it that attempted to ruin her? Tell me now, and [ll swear to forgive him.” “T’ll try you, Hawks; it was Alfred Guerry.” “Him!” almost screamed the old man, rising, “that rascal—he hired me to murder old Morga— the villain——” Instantly recalling his promise and fearing that Trippe would not tell him where Mary lived, Hawks sank back into his chair, muttering: “But I forgive him! I forgive him!” — Trippe and Stannard were gazing at the old man in consternation. The doctor knew that Hawks had not committed the murder, but was it true that he had gone for that purpose?” “Hawks! we will be friends to you if you will act right—now tell us the secret of this affair. Why did Guerry hire you to kill Morgan?’ Trippe asked. “T wouldn’t a done it, doctor—I didn’t mean to do it. I seed that Morgan hadn’t long to live, and I wanted to make that—that young fellar think that I did it. He give me this paper.” Unfolding his wallet, Hawks laid the compact before them; and they read it in silence, merely looking into each other’s eyes. | “T wanted money—I wanted to be revenged for Mary. I followed you the fust time, and heard the eolonel thar tell you he’d give Guerry his Crawford place. I told him I’d make the colonel give hima fortin’. He was to give me two thousand for gitting Eomicbooks (Eo)