The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-10-10

said unless he can prove that they are
false. How can you think that have
changed my mind? AS regards this
talk about an early wedding, what do
know about it? At 6 O'Clock I was
in the kitchen with my mother and Nj
at ALL
Then I persisted. asked her if she
could have gone out and had perhaps
forgotten.
"Forgotten!' she repeated scornful-
~. DO you suppose that a woman
could by any possibility forget her own
wedding? But what is it, Jack? What
is in your mind?'
Then I told. her. Molly" 1 said
"last night forgot your letter. There
was so much to think and talk about
with these disclosures that 1 forgot
This morning I remembered. Then
hurried ashore. ran to the Crown. It
was just upon 6. I was too late His
lordship had gone out in a chair. I
ran to the church. 1t was just after
6. The doors were open. 1 heard
voices. I went in, Molly, Do not say
that 1 am dreaming. I saw you-you.
l say-you yourself, with your pink
silk cloak, the hood pulled over your
head, domino to hide your face, just
as had been arranged'
"Icu saw me, Jack? You saw me?
How could you see me?"
And your hand was in Lord Flying
dale's, and Mr.. Purden was pronounc-
ing the words which made you his
wife, Whom God hath joined together
let not man put asunder'"
She stared at me with blank amaze
ment.
I'm my pink silk cloak? Jack, are
you In your right mind, or is it my
self who am gone distraught?'
Indeed know not which,
Did you speak to me? Did you con-
graduate the bride, Jack?"
mo; was sick and sorry, Molly.
went out of the church. I had seen
enough. The clerk, however, has been
telling the story of this private mar
rage all over the town. Everybody
knows it. The marriage is duly enter
ed in the registers. 1t was a marriage
by the archbishop's license. The man
Purden may be all that the wears let
ter exposed, but the marriage was in
order"
Molly said nothing for awhile; then
she said gently: "The letter from the
bookseller, your cousin, spoke of Lord
Fylingdale as ruined. If he were to
M 0VsysVv
be his"-
Il believe that there are sometimes
letters-bills of lading or whatever they
are called which give the wife the
control Of her own property; otherwise
everything becomes her husband's.'
"Why did he wish to marry me:
There was never CLEAN of love in his
eye nor a note of love in his voice.
Why, except that he might get my
money!"
''That is, am convinced, the rea-
son."
"Villainy, villainy, villainy! Jack,
this is conspiracy. Some woman has
been made to play my part Then he
will claim me as his wife and Law
hands upon all that have"
mo, Molly; he shall not while YOU
have friends
FRIENDS cannot help where the law
orders otherwise. So much I know.
Jack. Yet you can do one thing for
me. You can protect me from the
man. He must not take me away"
Cali Lynn will fight for YOU"
Jack, want more. I want all Lynn
to believe me. You have known me all
my life. Am 1 capable Of such a change
of mind? Am I capable Of so mon
strous falsehood as to steal out to
marry the man and then to declare that
l have never left the house? Oh, the
villain, the villainr' Her cheek was
a1ame; her eyes flashed.
seized her hand. "A1olly," I cried.
"they shall all believe you will tell
the truth everywhere
Just then the garden door was thrown
open, and Sam Semple appeared. With
smiling face and bending knee he
advanced, bowling low.
Permit me to offer congratulations
to the Countess of Fylingdale.'
Il am not q countess. I am plain
Molly NIiller.'
Sam looked disconnected and puzzled.
l perceived that, plot or no plot, he had
no hand in it,
II am come" he said, ''from his lord
ship
II have nothing to do with his lord
ship"
Surely, madam; surely, my lady,
there is some misunderstanding. I am
sent by his lordship with his compli-
ments to ask when it will be conven-
lent for the countess to receive him."
You have been Informed, I suppose,
that I was married to him this morn
ing"
"Certainly, nv lady."