The Illegal Marriage — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

THE ILLEGAL MARRIAGE. 73 only child should posh to marry a sneak of a Guerry !” For the first time she raised herself to her full height, and dropping her pleading tone, spoke firmly: “You must not say such things of him; I cannot listen to them.” Again she bowed her head imploringly. “Papa! I beg you now to speak ill of him—not until you have seen him. You do not know how good and true he is, nor how much he loves me.” “Seen him? seen him? I’ll see him and ‘his whole family hanged first.” “Oh, papa! listen to me—just one moment. Do hear me——” she begged piteously before him, her eyes streaming with tears, and her hands raised to his face. She saw that his passion was gaining the mastery; and he clutched his stick as if he would strike her dead at his feet. “Hear me, my father—tell me one good reason why I should not love him; show me that he is un- worthy, and I will obey you; but unless you can do that I must not break my promise to him.” He muttered curses over her as she continued to ‘ implore him. “He loves me so much, papa; and I shall be left in the world alone—do not, oh, do not destroy my only hope of happiness in life. For my mother’s sake——” He broke in upon her as she uttered that name, and, perfectly furious now, raised his stick above her head. She sprang to her feet, and grasping the cane, tore it from his hand, standing like a tigress at bay. GComicboo “S (Ele)