Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-10-23

sought her at the house. begged
her to come into the garden and to talk
with me privately. Then asked those
two questions. Her answer to both of
them was most amazing.
Jack" she said, 81 know not what
you mean. have not changed my
mind. 1t is impossible for me to marry
man Of whom such things can be
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 dc
know about 1t? AT o'clock was
in the kitchen with my mother and Nj
gra. have not been out of the house
at all"
Then persisted. l asked her if she
could have gone out and had perhaps
forgotten.
forgotten" she repeated scornful-
ly. do you suppose that woman
could by any possibility forget her own
wedding? But what is It, Jack2 What
Is in your mindf'
Then told her. MOLLY" said,
"last night forgot your letter. There
was so much to think and talk about
with these disclosures that I forgot.
This morning 1 remembered. Then
hurried ashore. ran to the Crown. 1t
was just upon 9. was too late. His
lordship had gone out in q chair.
ran to the church. 1t was Just after
9. The doors were open. I heard
voices. went In, Molly. Do not say
that I am dreaming. I saw you-you,
say-you yourself, with your pink
silk cloak, the hood pulled over your
head, q domino to hide your face, just
as had been arranged"
"You saw me, Jack? You saw me2
How could you see meY
"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 Mt me with blank amaze
ment.
"In my pink silk cloak7 Jack, are
you in your right mind. or Is 1t my
self who am gone distraughti"
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 1t. The marriage is duly enter
ed in the registers. 1t was 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: 1.-THE letter from the
bookseller, your cousin, spoke of Lord
Fylingdale as ruined. II he were to
marry woman with money, it would
be his
II 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 husbands"
"Why did he wish to marry me?
There was never CLEAN of love in his
eye nor 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,
tuis IN "a conspiracy. some woman NUS
been made to play my part. Then he
will claim me as his wife and lay
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 Gun protect me from the
man. He must not take me away"
"All Lynn will fight for you"
Jack, want more. want all Lynn
to believe me. You have known me oil
my life. Am I capable Of such change
of mind? Am 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 villainv' Her cheek was
aflame; her eyes flashed.
| l seized her hand. Molly" I cried,
"they shall all believe you. 1 will tell
the truth everywhere"
Just then the garden door was thrown
open, and Sam Semple appeared. With
smiling face and a bending knee he
advanced, bowling low.
Permit me to offer congratulations
to the Countess Of Fylingdale."
Il am not countess. l am plain
Molly Miller"
Sam looked disconnected and puzzled.
perceived that, plot or no plot, he had
no hand in 1t.
II am come" he said. "from his lord
ship
Il 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, suppose,
that was married to him this morn.
ing"
Certainly, my lady"
"Then go back to Lord Fylingdale
and tell him that he is villain and Il
liar, that l have learned his true char
acter, that I am not married to him
and that If he ventures to modest me
my friends will protect me. Give him
that message, sir, word for word"
II believe, SAM" said. for his dis
comfture and bewilderment made him
reel and stagger, that you have no
hand in this new vlllainy. 1t was you,
however, who brought that man to
Lynn, knowing his true character and
his antecedents. Let us never see your
face here again. Go. If thought you
We're in the plot, l would serve you
again as the captain served you three
years ago"
he went away without another word.
Then the captain came home, his
face troubled.
II know not" he said, what has
happened in this place. I have seen
Lord Fylingdale. l told him of the