Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-10-09

unworthy as am, my hand and all
that goes with Tiny rank and title,
my possessions and myself"
"The captain told me of the message"
Il have today received an answer
from him. But, although he Is your
guardian, would not presume to con-
slider that answer as final. 1 must have
your answer as WELL"
My lord. | am but n humble and a
homely person"
NAY. but lovely as Venus herself"
Il know not, since all the company
have come to Lynn, how homely and
humble am in the eyes of gentlefolk. !"
You will no longer be either hOmely
or humble when you are a countess"
Il fear that your friends among the
great will make your lordship ashamed
of your choice"
my friends know me better than to
suppose that can be shamed by their
opinion. But, indeed, they have only
to see you for that opinion to be
changed. Once seen by the world, and
all Will envy and congratulate the hap
py possessor of so much beauty"
"Then-are you satisfied that you are
truly in love with me?'
"Satistied? He took her hand and
kissed it. How shall satisfy you on
this point? BY what assurance? By
what lovers vows?"
She glanced upward, having spoken
so far with hanging head. Her eyes
met his. Alas, they were cold and
hard! There was no softening influ-
ence of love visible in those eyes-only
resolution and purpose. His eyes We're
as cold as his forehead and as hard as
his lips. Poor Molly! Poor countess!
"Is it not, my lord" she asked, "a
mere passing fancy? You will be tired
Of me in n month. You will regret that
you did not choose, rather, among the
fine ladies who speak your language
and follow your manners"
Molly, am man who does not en-
courage idle fancies and passing loves.
You will find no change in me. As
am now SO shall be always"
She shivered. The prospect made
her feel cold.
"Then, my lord" she said, 81 have
nothing more to say. shall not do
justice to your rank, nor shall I bring
to your house the dignity which you
deserve. Such Us am, take me, If you
will; or let me go, If you will"
Can you doubt, Molly? l will take
you" He hesitated; he took her hand
again; he stopped and kissed her fore
head. There was no passion in his
kiss. no tenderness in his touch, no
emotion in his voice. Such as he was
then such he would always be, and,
though the door was closed, Molly
seemed to hear again the voice Of her
mother murmuring, "But only thou, o
Godv'
Her lover drew the captains arm
chair and placed 1t at the open win
dow, which looked out into the gar
den, then filed with flowers, fragrant
and beautiful and melodious with the
humming of many bees.
"Sit down, Molly. and let us talk"
He did not sit down; he stood before
her; he walked about the room; he
played With the gold tassels of his
sword.
"Molly, since we are to be married,
we must be married at once"
II am your lordship's servant"
CAS- soon as possible. Are you
ready"
Ready? suppose could be ready
In month or six weeks"
why, what is there to doT
II have to get things-dresses, house
linen, all kinds Of things"
my dear, you are not going to marry
cit. Everything that you want you
can buy. There are plenty of shops.
You want nothing but what you have
your wardrobe, your fine things and
your common things and your jewels.
You must not forget your jewels"
II thought that brides were always
provided with things for the house,
but If your lordship has already the
linen and the napery''-
"Good gracious! How should know
what have? The thing is that you
will need nothing"
where Will YOU Jake iuet
81 think, first Of all. to my house in
Worcestershire. 1t is not fully fur
nished. The late possessor, my cousin,
whom 1 succeeded, was, unfortunately,
a gambler. He had to cut down his
woods and to sell them. He even had
to sell his furniture and pictures. But
I can soon put the house in order fit
for your reception" 1t was he himself
and not his predecessor who had sold
these things. IF 1t is not so fine at
first as you would wish, we can soon
make 1t worthy of YOU"
have often wondered what he in
tended to do with his bride If things
had gone differently. am now Of
opinion that he intended to take her to
this great country house, which, as
have understood. stands In secluded
part of the country, with no near neigh
bors and no town within reach, and
that he intended to leave her there
while he himself went up to London
to resume the old gaming and raking
which he desired SO much, although
they had been his ruin. Fate, however,
prevented this design.
IF you desire my happiness, my
lord"-
what else is there in the world that
should desire?"
you will take me to that country
place and live there. fear the world
Of fashion, and have no wish to live
in London. have learned from the
Lady Anastasla how the great ladies
pass their time"
Everything shall be us you wish,
Molly-everything, believe me-"
He then, by way of illustrating this
assurance, proposed thing which he
himself wished.
1--WE must be married Immediately,
Molly, because l am called away by
affairs Of Importance to Gloucester
shire. ought to leave this place not
later than Saturday." The day was