The Illegal Marriage — page 133: what you’re looking at

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

THE ILLEGAL MARRIAGE. 125 Almost mechanically, Stannard went through the formality, and, with a sad and heavy heart, stepped to the window. He tried to recall the words of Trippe. What was the explanation that he was about to make when interrupted? What effect would it have had upon this stupid jury? Stannard was thoroughly angry with these men. The more he thought about it, the more the idea grew upon him, that Morgan’s murderer had en- tered by this window—that he had committed the deed, and afterward tried to kill Trippe, who must have had some suspicion as to who the criminal was. The doctor’s manner in the morning was of a man who knew a secret that he would not tell; and Stannard heartily prayed that he might recover in time to prevent this great outrage to Miss Morgan. “But for that unfortunate affair she would never have been subjected to this,” he thought, bitterly, and turned to the window to see the jurors going to their horses. Now that the inquest was over, two or three of the neighbors were preparing to lay out the body; and Stannard watched the others as they mounted, after gossiping for a few moments at the gate. It was only too evident that all who had heard the testimony were firmly convinced that Miss Mor- gan was guilty of the murder of her father. Suddenly, as he stood there lost in thought, Stan- nard clasped his hand upon his pocket, — “Good Heaven!” he exclaimed, “what have I done. This letter would have removed all suspicion from her. I did not once think of it.” For a moment only, he regretted this oversight, and then came the thought that, to have diverted Gomicboo cS com |