The Illegal Marriage — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

THE ILLEGAL MARRIAGE 45 Imust go. Good-by, my dear girl; it will not be for long?” “Oh, no, no! it must not be for long? Don’t say good-by, but au revorr—Alfred, I] must see you soon.” She said it so fondly that it made his heart full. Whatever his errors he loved this fair girl truly and well; and had the course of true love run smooth, he might, perhaps, have made a better man. His loose life was a thing of the past now, he thought, and his true life would begin with the present. Taking both of her hands in his own, he held her away from him, and looked long upon her sweet, bright face, now lighted with some happy radiance. As he gazed down into the depths of her tender eyes his own softened with love; and permitting them to wander over her. glossy hair, her ripe, red lips, and fair skin, he felt supremely happy in the thought that she was all his own. “Why am I so blessed?” he asked, as, loth to leave, he again drew her to a seat upon the sofa. “Why?” she repeated, archly, turning her head coquettishly on one side. “Yes, Cecy, why? You know that my Fr arofeastan is all that I have in the world. I have nothing be- sides. Can you bear poverty with me?” “Poverty, Alfred? Do you not love me? Toa lonely girl there is greater wealth in that than money can buy. Some time I shall have enough for us both, Alfred. Till then your love is all I ask.” He looked at her still more fondly, and bending toward her pressed a kiss upon her fair white brow, “People may speak ill of me——” “J will not believe them.” Eomicbooks (Elo)