The Illegal Marriage — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

164 THE ILLEGAL MARRIAGE. view, and a deep blush suffused his face when thus appealed to. “T cannot,” he replied, with a stammer; “I am obliged to raise some money for Miss Morgan, and must see to it at once.” “You need not leave town for that,” Stannard re- plied, “I can easily raise the money here. Let me give you a check on my merchants.” Stannard took a blank check from his note-book. “How much do you want for her? I expect De Wolf, down stairs, will give you the money on it; if not you can get it from Thompson, the hardware man.” Alfred was now really alarmed. Another check upon the merchants from whom he had aiready drawn so large a sum would certainly bring his forgery to light. He must keep Stannard and his checks away from the merchants. “Oh, no, no! Colonel Stannard, I could not take any more money from you.” “But this is for Miss Morgan. She is welcome to all that she needs. What is the figure? Come, Alf, don’t be foolish about so small a matter.” “Were it for myself, [might not hesitate,” re- plied Guerry, stooping toa lie; “but this is for Miss Morgan. She expressly charged me not to get the money from you.” Stannard put back the check, and abruptly turned to the window. : “Don’t feel hurt, I beg you. She was very par- ticular in telling me not to let vou know of this; and I should have refused more firmly, without giving a reason for so doing.” “Mr. Guerry,” asked Crawford, fixing his eves upon Alfred’s face, “do you intend to get this money from your private means?” “Oh, no! Stannard, I hope you do not think hard of this—I am sure Miss Morgan would never forgive me, if she heard how awkwardly I have bungled with her words.” “She need never know it. I shall never mention it to her.” Stannard replied. with a trembling lip. “ITmust go at once to Echaconnee, on business EoMICHbOOKS.c