The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-12
The Lady J; !! ! !. /. {! OF {, Lynn.
BY SIR WALTER BESANT.
Copyrighted 1900 BY Sir Walter Bcsant)
CHAPTER Nil
4 MEnnING-
BY SIR WALTER BESANT.


In a strange condition of exultation. for
had no doubt--no doubt at al-that tne
cbarpes were true and that a conspiracy
nj tho most deadly kind was not only dis
covered. but also checked and | could not
but admire the craft and subtlety with
which the favorite of the muses. had de-
vised plan By which it was made posi-
be for the conspirators TO come all togeth-
or without the least suspicion to the town
of LYNN. Nobody could stand against him,
nor could any one in Lord Fylingdale's
rank visit the town in its ordinary condi-
ton without receiving an invitation TO
Houchton if Sir Robert was there unless,
indeed. there were reasons why he should
not be visited or received. What Sam had
not expected was without doubt the won
derful success of his deception, the eager
ness with which the country round accept
ed his inventions, the readiness with which
they drank these innocent waters. the NIL
raculous cures effected and the transfer
nation of the venerable old port and trad
ing town into haunt and resort oil fash-
ion and the pursuit of pleasure
Thinking of all these things and in
blissful anticipation Of the discontinue
of all the conspirators. there was an I'M
portant thing that l quite forgot-namely'
10 send Moily's letter TO her sutton in his
room at the Crown l carried the letter
in nv pocket l undressed and lay down
in my bunk. / slept with a light heart
dreaming only of things pleasant until the
morning. when the earliest stroke of the
hammer from the yard and the quay woke
me w. II was then $50. l sat up. ] rub
bed my eyes I then suddenly remem-
bered that the letter was in my pocket
still.
1t was. l say, 500. Tine engagement was
for 6 o'clock l might have to run yet
to stop Lord Fylingdale.
1t does not take long to dress. You
may imagine that l did not spend time
in powdering my hair. In quarter of
an hour l was over the side of the ship
and in my dingey.
By the clock of the Common Stath it
was five minutes to when l landed and
r.ade her fast. l climbed the stairs and
ran as fast as my legs could carry me TO
the Crown Inn. AS I reached the door
the clock struck G. Was Lord Fylingdale
in his room? 1 was too late. He had left
the house only five minutes before and had
been carried in his chair across the mar
ket place.
/ followed. 1t was already five minutes
past the hour. l should find him in the
church chatting at the delay. l should give
him the letter and retire.
The market place was filed with the
market people and with the townspeople
who came 10 buy. l pushed across, step
ping over a basket and jostled by a wo-
man with poultry and vegetables 1t was,
however. seven or eight minutes Then l
arrived at the church. The doors Of the
south porch We're open. Within ! heard
the sound of voices or at least of one
voice | looked in.
Heavens! What had happened? Not
only was l late with my letter but-but
could l believe my eyes? Molly herself
stood before the altar Facing her was
Lord Fylingdale. who held her hand.
Within the rails stood the Rev. Benjamin
Purden beside him the clerk to make the
responses, and the minister. when l ar
rived. was actually saying the words
which the bridegroom repeats after the
minister. completing in effect the mar
riage ceremony.
y. Ludovic, take thee Mary, to be my
welded wife" and SO on, according to
the form prescribed, and again the words
beginning:
with this ring thee we'd
/ stood and listened, lost in wonder.
Then came the prayer prescribed, after
which the clergyman Joined their hands
together. saying:
Those whom God has Joined together
let no man put asunder."
! heard no more. / sat down on the
nearest bench. What was the meaning of
this sudden change? Remember that l
had left Molly only a few hours before
this fully resolved that she would de-
mand an enquiry into the statements and
charges made in the two letters-resolved
that she would not keep the engagement,
her admiration for the proud, brave,
noble creature, her lover, turned into
loathing.
And now-now. in the early morning.
with her letter in my pocket stating her
change of purpose, 1 found her at the al
tar actually married
Whom God hath Joined together let no
man put asunder."
What IL the man Purden was all that he
was described? The priestly Office con-
fers rights and powers which are indie
pendent of the man who holds that office.
Whatever his private wickedness. Pur-
den was a clergyman, and therefore he
could marry people.
A1Oi1 SApDu DEIDEt the altar. as mao
been arranged. She wore a black silk
domino; she had on a pink silk cloak with
q hood drawn over her head, SO that she
was quite covered up and concealed. But
knew her by her stature, which was
taller than the common, and by her dress,
which had been agreed upon.
Ihen the bridegroom offered his hand
and led the bride into the vestry They
We're 10 sign the marriage register
Ana mere ! rose and skunk away. I say
that ] skunk away. If you like it better,
4 crawled away, for i was sick al heart
The thing which / most dreaded. the mar
TiaRc- of our girl to a rake and a game
Stei. had been actually accomplished.
Misery and ruin would be her lot. And In
my pocket was her letter asking for eX-
pianation-and Withdrawing her promise
tor the morrow. Could one believe one s
senses
l crawled away. ashamed for the first
time in my life Of the girl | loved. Wom-
en-. | said to myself. are poor. weak crea-
lures. They believe everything. Lord
Eyiingdaie must have been with her early.
he had but to deny the whole; she &C
cepted the denial. Despite her resolution
she walked with him to the church as the
lamb goes TO the shambles Oh Molly!
Nho could have believed II OF you?
/ left the church and went away |
Thought Of going to the captain: of tell
Ing my father; of telling the vicar. but il
seemed ike treachery. and ! refrained
Instead. / walked back 80 the quay and
padded to the ship. where presently the
barges came alongside and the DAYS
work began. Fortunate It is for a man
that at moments of great unhappiness
his work has to be done and he is desir-
Gus to put aside his sorrow and to think
upon his duty. But-alas, Poor Molly
Who could have believed II possible?
Well. you see. did not follow this wed
ding 10 an end. Had 1 gone into the YES
try I should have been witness of s4me-
thing very unexpected
The clergyman had the registers lying
on the table open He took a pen and
flled In the forms. He then offered the
pen to the bride