The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-09-12
The parson hath promised to await us
there. You shall be my wife within

AAs1AA y US. ~ Ill SuOuf, Il Sdy,&yOu Shall
be my wife: s
Molly looked out of the other win
dow. The post chaise was there with
it's pair of horses and the postboy watt
Ing at the horses heads. She would
have to make her stand at once, there.
fore. To get into the post chaise with
that man would be dangerous, even
though she was as strong as himself,
and. since she was not drinker of
wine, she was in better condition.
Il looked round at the house, she
told me afterward. II thought that if
could get into the house might gain
some time-perhaps I could bar the
door, perhaps could find that griddle
or the frying pan Of which l spoke.
Or If it came to using the bodkin there
would be more room for my arm in a
house than in a chair or a chaise. So I
had one more parley in order to gain
time and then slipped OUT
"Sir," she said, Il give you one more
chance Of retaining the name and rep
utation of gentleman. Garry me back
or else await the vengeance of nv
friends. I warn you solemnly that
murder will be done before I marry
you; understand, sir, murder of you
or of your confederates or of myself"
She spoke with so much calmness
and with SO much resolution that she
aroused all his native obstinacy. Be-
sides 1t was now too late The news of
the abduction would be all over Lynn:
he must carry the thing through. He
swore another loud and blasphemous
oath. Heavens! How he was punish
ed! How swiftly and speedily!
Molly stepped out of the chair. Tom
Rising, his hat in hand, again bowed
low. Madam" he said, ''you are we'll
advised. Pray let me hand you into
the chaise."
She made no reply, but, rushing past
him, darted into the house. She Stun
bled down one step and found herself
in a room where the twilight outside
could not penetrate 1t was quite
dark. She closed the door behind her
and bolted it, finding a bolt in the
usual place.
Then she waited moment, thinking
what she could do next. A rustling
and footstep showed that she was
not alone.
"Who is there?" she cried. els there
no light?"
She heard the striking of flint and
steel; she saw the suffering yellow
light Of a match, and by it's Pickering
she discerned an old woman trying to
light a candle "a rushlight in tin
frame, with holes at the sides.
Molly looked quietly round the room.
A knife lay on the table. She took it
up. 1t was one of-the rough clasp
knives used by rustics when they eat
their dinners under the hedge. She
stepped forward and took the light
from the old woman's hand.
> "Quick" she said. "Who is in the
heuse?'
''No one except myself. He said the
house was to be KEEP clear tonight"
''Can they get in?''
"They can kick the house down if
they like; it's so old and crazy"
us there an upper room?"
The old woman pointed to the far
corner. Molly now perceived that the
place was the kitchen, the taproom, the
sitting room and all. A table was in
the middle; a settle was standing be-
side the empty fireplace; there was
bench or two; mugs and cups Of wood,
pewter and common ware stood on the
mantelshelf; a side of bacon hung in
the chimney. In the corner to which
the old woman pointed was ladder.
Molly ran across the ROOM At the top
of the ladder there was square open
ing large enough for her passage. She
went up and found herself by the dim
rushlight in an upper chamber the floor
OF which was covered with flock beds
laid on the boards. There was one
small frame of glass in the roof, a win
dow which was not made to open. The
place reeked with foul air worse than
the orlop deck or the hold after voy-
age. 49,.
Down below she heard her captor
kicking at the door. Apparently the
old woman drew back the bolt, for he
came in noisily and swearing horribly.
Apparently the old woman pointed to
the ladder, or perhaps the glimmer
from the room above guided him. He
came to the ladder and tried persua-
sion. - -
Molly, my DEAR" he cried, s'come
down, come down! won't harm you.
Upon my honor will not. I want only
to put you into the chaise and carry
you off to be married. Molly, you are
the loveliest girl in the county. Molly,
l say, there is nobody can hold a can.
die to you. Molly, will make you as
happy as the day is long. Molly, love
you ten times as well as that proud
lord. He will not marry you. There
isn't man in all the company I will
not fight for your sake. Don't think I
will let any other man have you. Con-
found it., Molly, why don't you an
swer?" Is
For now she kept silence. The more