The times., 1901-05-05

9 Httle' Sipplhg the contents, and he VIII
not take more than a single glass or two
I at the most. In the same time Tom Ris-
ing would nave gulped down q whole bot
tie. one man wants to crafty many
senses; the other seeks only TO get drunk
as quickly as he can. So. / take it, with
the forbidden pleasures of the world One
man may cultivate his taste; the other
may be satisfied with the coarse and plen-
tiful debauchery. This is not however,
talk for honest folk like you and me"
Go on with your story. Jack Never
mind the different ways of wickedness' -
Well. he heard of an heiress. She be-
lOnged to town remote from fashion,
town of simple merchants and sailors.
she was very rich; much richer than he
Who told him about this heiress?'
/ "A creature called Sam Semple. whom
the captain once cudgeled. Why. Molly. 1t
was revenge. In return for the cudgelng
he would place you and your fortune in
the hands of a man who would bring mis-
cry upon you and ruin on your fortune.
heavens, how the thing works OUT And
1t happened just in the nick of time that
a spring was found in the town-a spring
whose medicinal properties Hal" /
Jumped }bnt to my feet Molly Wv who found
the doctor about it? Sam Semple. Who
| spread abroad report that the physi-
/ clans of London were sending their pa
! tientS to Lynn? Sam Semple. How many
! patients have come to us from London?
| None, save and except only the party of
I those who came secretly in his loTdships
I tram 70 SiiiS his praises ana 10 HOTk MS
! wicked will. Why, Molly 1 burst
! into a laugh. for now [ understand as
! one sometimes does understand. suddenly
and without proof other than the rapid
] conclusion. the full meaning of the whole.
Molly. / say. there has never been any
medicinal spring here at all. The doctors
! well is but common spring water There
! are no cures. The whole business is a
! pie"
! Jack, have a care. How can that be
| when the doctor has a long list of cures2''
| Il know it. but l do know that Sam
| Semple invented the spa in order to bring
! this invasion of sharperS and gamblers
| and heiress hunters. Oh what a liar ne
! is! What revenge! What cunningi What
signal service has this servant Of the dew
il rendered to his masteri'
Truly l was carried out of myself by
this discovery, which explained every
thing.
So I went on. they came here all
! the way from London, their lying ex-
cuse that they were ordered here by their
physicians. and we, poor, simple folk, fell
into the snare. All the countryside fell
into the snare, and we have been fooled
into drinking common water and calling
1t what YOU please. and we have built gar
dens and engaged musicians and created
a spa, and, oh, heavens. what liar he isl
What liarl This comes. ] suppose. of
being poet,'
Then Molly laid her head upon my arm.
Jack she said very seriously, do you
really believe this story? Only consider
concerned about Lord Fylingdale than
about Sam Semple.
I believe every word of it, Molly. l
believe that they have all Joined in the
conspiracy, more or less; that they have
all got promises and that tomorrow morn
ing. if you do not refuse to meet this
man in st. Nicholas Church. you will
bring upon yourself nothing but misery
Il have promised to meet him. must
at least send him message. if only to
I "a OJT1p
Il should like to send him nothing, but
you are right. 1t is best to be courteous.
Well, YOU may send him letter. | will
myself take it to the Crown
But afterward, Jack? What shall We
do afterward? II he is innocent. he Will
take offence. II not"
IF you were enga ged to marry
young merchant Molly or TO skipper
and you heard rumors of bankruptcy.
drink or evil courses, what would you
do2"
II would tell MIN that | had heard such
and such about him, and / should ask
for explanations.
Then do exactly the same with Lord
Fylngdale. He IS accused of certain /
things. The captain must make enquiry.
He is bound TO enquire Why. the vicar
himself says that he would, If necessary, !
in order to ascertain the truth, travel |
all the way to London. there to learn the /
foundations. if any, for these charges, |
and afterward into Worcestershire. where /
his country mansion stands, to learn on |
of the country know of him
But suppose he refuses explanations. |
He is too proud to be called to account" /
Then send him packing. Lord or no 1
lord, proud or humble, if he furnishes |
explanations if these things are untrue. |
then-Why, then you will consider what |
TO do Eut. Molly, | do not believe that |
any explanations will be forthcoming and |
that your noble lover will carry it of /
to the end with the same lofty pride and /
cold meu.
Let US go into the parlor, Jack. There /
are the captains writing materials. Help
me TO say what is proper. oh. is it pos
sible? Can l believe it? Are these things
trueE That proud man, raised above his
fellows by his virtues and his rank and
his principles! Jack, he risked his life
for me
Ask no more questions, Molly. We
must have explanations. Let us write
the letter.
1t was MoIlys first letter-the only let
ter perhaps that she will ever write
in all her life Certainly she had never
written one before, nor has she ever
written one since. Like most house
household accounts. recipes for puddings
and pies and the labelling of her bottles
and jars. I have the letter before me
at this moment. 1t is written in a large,
sprawli0g hand. and the spelling is not
such as would satisfy my father
Naturally she looked to me for ad-
vice. | had written many letters to my
owners and to foreign merchants about
cargoes. and the like. and was therefore
able to advise the composition of a let
ter which should be justly expressed and
to the point:
.'Honored Lord: This is from me at the
present moment in my guardians parlOr'
writing parlor, when | as mate of the ship
should have written port or harbOr- 1t
IS 10 inform you that intelligence has been !
brought by letters from London and Cam
bridge. Touching the matters referred to
m these letters l have to report for your
that they call your lordship
N round terms gamester and a ruined |
rake and Your companions at the spa, |
namely, Sam Semple. the parson, the rick
.ty old beau, and the colonel, simple,
Shall not, therefore, meet your lordship
at the church tomorrow morning as in /
,truCted. Awaiting your lOrdship's ex- |
DlanatiOns and commands your most obe-
MOLLY"
This letter | folded, sealed. addressed.
md dropped INTO my pocket. Then / bade /
Molly goodnight, entreated her to be
thankful for her escape. and so left her
With a light heart. Verify il seemed as if |
lie sadness of the last two months had
)een wholly and suddenly lifted and on
ny way back to the Crown | passed the ,
-ady Anastasia's s lodging just as her chair
vas brought to the house. / opened the .
oor for her and stood hat in hand.
why, it is Jack! she cried. 1T is the
dilOr Jack. the constant lover Have YOU
nything more to tell me2'
only that Molly will not keep that ap-
ointment of tomorrow evening" q
oh. that interesting appointment in st. :
Nicholas Church. May a body ask why
he ceremony has been postponed?"
Things have been disclosed al the last
moment. fortunately in time
What things and by whOm?"
BY letter. 1t Is stated as a fact well |
-nown that Lord F'ylingdale is nothing