The Illegal Marriage — page 248: what you’re looking at

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

240 THE ILLEGAL MARRIAGE. this thing, and I hope it may still te kept from the people; but, Alf, don’t you think it best for you to go away for a year or two?” “T have no money,” he said, scarcely above a whisper. “Here is the money that Hawks gave me last night. Take it, Alf—go abroad fora time; and if you need more let me hear from you.” Alfred took the money in silence, but still felt that he hated the hand even in giving. But he muttered his thanks faintly. “You should find this a lesson, I should think,” said epee sternly ; “but for your father and sisters, I should have exposed you long ago. Perhaps it would have been better had I done it.” “Don’t, Trippe, don’t say anything more,” inter- rupted Stannard, “let it pass now, Iam sure that Alfred can see his duty as well as if we gave hima sermon on it.” Guerry cast a furtive glance upon Stannard’s face—looking very handsome at that moment, and, despite the kindness, the generosity, the forbear- ance that was shown him, felt the feeling of hatred rankling in his heart. Conscientiously he felt then that these men had wronged him; and such was the effect of the narrow moral code under which he had been reared. Conscientious, too, Alfred Guerry felt that he had cause for hating the men who had thwarted him in his plans. “T should have been a good man; I would have given to the church; I could have been generous to the poor; I should have been a Christian, had they not interfered with me, and driven me out into the world.” “Go now, Alfred,” said Stannard, extending his hand; “I would go as soon as I saw my people, if I were you. ‘J'ell them you were brought here asa witness, and they shall never hear the truth— Heaven bless you.” He took Trippe’s hand also. and without asking pardon for the wrongs of which he had been guilty, turned toward the door. cS -comicbhoo