The Illegal Marriage — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

62 THE ILLEGAL MARRIAGE. reveal it; and he now sat thinking of his friend’s generous nature. “Stannard!” he said, presently, “a moment ago I said that I should not ask your secret, but I have changed my mind. You need not answer me if ‘you do not wish to tell it—but I want to know why you did not propose to Miss Morgan yourself?” For some time Stannard did not speak, but sat with folded arms and downcast eyes, as if his mind was wandering through the past. “Tell me that it is a secret, and I’ll say no more,” Trippe continued; “but I wish to be a friend to you, and to—to Miss Morgan.” “You are a true friend, doctor—a true friend. I want to ask one favor of you—if this matter is decided on, don’t try to prevent it—rather let us help them.” “Stannard, you lived too late—you belong to the age of chivalry. Don’t try to stop me, IT am speak- ing from my heart. Ill promise you this; unless I can show him to be utterly unworthy of her—unless I can prove to you that she would be taking upon herself a life of misery, I will do as you wish.“ “Thanks, Trippe, you are a good fellow. Let us help them if we can.” The doctor had a mental reservation with his re- mark; but it answered for the present, since he knew that he could prove his assertions in the end. “Sit over here, doctor, and I will tell you my story. Itis a painful subject to me, and has never passed my lips before. It is a secret, remember——” “T shall remember that it is your secret.” “J do not fear for you. I was going to say that it is a secret that I have kept even from my own family. Eomicbooks Corr