Octavia's Pride; or, The Missing Witness — page 236: what you’re looking at

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

226 OCTAVIA’S PRIDE. ness, ‘all our trouble is ended, for I am sure my little wife will not be afraid that I shall not be able to keep her in a home as cozy and comfortable as this. Certainly we need not fear want if we will only be content without gran- deur.” t} ‘‘J do not ask anything better than this. It is’ better than a palace with George Merle. Oh, Maurice, Heaven has drifted the poor waif into a joyful harbor.” ‘‘There is no time to lose. I am going to a kind man I know, a clergyman; I shall tell him the whole story, and I feel confident of his assistance. I can get a license, too, without much trouble, and Mrs. Damer will lend us her valuable assistance.”’ «© Anything I or my Johnny can do,-Mr. Maurice.” ‘«Tf Jane were only here, but I know it is impossible,” said Wilhelmine, with a sigh. Maurice caught her hands in his. ‘©You are not afraid—you do not repent?” The shining eyes, the sweet face drifted over with happy blushes, answered him. He came back twice to kiss the tremulous red lips, and finally tore himself away with a desperate effort, and hur- ried off, murmuring: ‘‘ Who would believe such a great blessing should come to me in so curious a fashion!” : CHAPTER XXIV. JANE WEST’S PRAYER. Mathew Merle had evidence before him of abundant in- terest when he found his way to the boarding-house keeper who had offered to take care of his effects, and the letters which might arrive. There were plenty of letters, quite comicl co