Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-09-19

y
est, obedient and dutiful wife She will
ask for nothing but continuance Of
your lordships affection and consider
alton, In return for which she will be
your willing servant as well as your
WIFE"
again, captain, doubt II not, else I
should not be here"
"And when the day comes-when you
pass the word. my lord-thc bells shall
ring and the music shall play. and all
the town shall make holiday, and we
will have such feast and merrymak-
ing that all the country round shall
ring with 1t. My lord, | am SO happy"
"But, captain. have not yet received
the consent Of the lady"
"Be assured that you will have 1t.
But the girl is shy and hesitates, being,
to say the truth. dazzled by the rank to
which she is to be raised. A young
maids modcsty will perhaps hinder
such freedom Of speech as you would
naturally desire"
81 hope, sir, that am able to appre-
clate and value the virtue Of modesty.
All ask of the young lady is her con-
sent"
"Of that you may he assured before
hand"
"Then, captain, as this Is an occasion
Of some awkwardness and one which II
Is well to get through as quickly as
possible"-dld one ever hear Of such a
loveri-"well, 20 get through as quickly
as possible"-his first interview with
his mistress-"you will perhaps bring
Miss Molly to me or take me to her"
Molly meanwhile was in her bedroom
In strange agitation, her color COM
Ing and going-now pale, now blushing
for the first time in her life trembling
and inclined to swoon. Even for n girl
who loves man it is an event Of the
greatest importance and one never to
be forgotten when she consents to
make him happy. But when she Is in
grievous doubt, torn by the conscious
ness that she does not love the man.
that she is afraid Of him. that she does
not desire the change of rank which he
offers and that she would far rather
remain among her own people--in such
a case. | say, her trouble is great in
deed. However, to do honor to the &C.
casion, she. like the captain, had as
sumed her Sunday attire. Her frock,
to be sure, was not so fine as that in
which she graced the assembly, but it
was passable. To my mind she looked
more beautiful than in that splendid
dress.
At her guardians summons she slow
ly descended the stairs. The kitchen
door was open. She looked in as she
passed. Her mother, instead of being
busy over her housewifcry, was sitting
in her chair, her hands clasped. her
eyes closed. her lips moving. She was
praying for her daughter Molly step
ped In and kissed her. Mother" she
said, pray that it may turn out well.
pray for me-
Because" her mother murmured in
reply, "the captain cannot help, and
Jack cannot help, and there is none
other that helpeth us but only thou, o
Godw
parlor door and entered.
Miss Mollyw Her gallant lover
splendid with his star and his fine
clothes, took her hand, bowed low and
kissed her fingers.
You would speak with me, my lord"
yesterday l sent message to your
guardian. | told him by my mcsSen-
ger that ! was entirely overcome by
the beauty and the charms and the
virtues of his fair ward, and | offered,
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"
81 have today received an answer
from him. But. although he is your
guardian, would not presume to con-
slider that answer as final. | must In We
your answer as well.'
MY lord. | am but a humble and a
homely person"
Nay. but lovely as Venus herself"
81 know not, since all the company
have come to Lynn, how homcly and
humble | am in the eyes of gcntlefolk"
You will no longer be either homely
or humble when YOU are countess"
Il fear that your friends among the
great will make your lordship ashamed
of your choice"
My friends know me better than 10
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
Ply possessor of so much beauty"
"Ihen--are you satisfied that you are
truly in love with meE'
"SatSiiedF' He took her hand and
kissed it. How shall satisfy YOU on
this pointI BY what assurance? BY
what lovers vowsY'
She glanced upward, having spoken
so far with hanging head Her eyes
met his. Alas. they were cold and
hard! There was no sottcning nfu.
ence of love visible in those eyes-onlv
resolution and purpose. His eyes were
as cold as his forehead and as hard as
his lips. Poor Molly! Poor countess.
rs it not, my lord" she asked, "a
mere passing fancyf You will be tired
Of me in a 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-