The Illegal Marriage — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

THE ILLEGAL MARRIAGE. 19 tions upon him. “We’ll fix the inquest at two o’clock.” “Suppose you make it twelve o’clock if it’s all the same to you,” Carrol suggested. “Very good; say twelve then. I said two because J wanted to take a bit of sleep meanwhile; but no matter.” “Ts the settlement unhealthy, doctor?” “By no means, Carrol—on the contrary, it is un- commonly healthy. I was up with Roper’s wife— she has a fine boy.” “Thus it 1s,” mused Stannard, as he sat with folded arms by the smoldering fire. “Thus it is that the young come on the stage and the old step from it. This very-idea should make us think how small we are and how little we know compared with what there is to be known. “As large as this world of ours is, we play our parts in avery small drama. Who can tell the future of this young actor? Who can tell whether he will be a mere supe—like thousands around us—like those men standing yonder; whether he will play the part of clown, of pantaloon, or harlequin; whether he will wear cap and bells in comedy or carnival; or play in some high tragedy, and end his career like that old man lying there.” While musing of life in this disconnected and rambling manner Trippe had left. Starting after him, Stannard reached the door in time to see the doctor mount his thoroughbred, which gave two or three spirited bounds, then struck out into a swing- ing gallop. “That horse is too wild for a doctor—even a heavy-weight like Trippe,” he said to himself, as he turned back to give a few directions; but he had Eomicboo cS (Eo)