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

But who will give them a character?
Understand" she said, facing him,
you had lost your bride before you got
out of bed this morning. Your only
chance is to initiate the example of
Tom Rising and to carry her off, and
she will then stick knife between
your ribs, as she intended to do to that
worthy gentleman. But, no; 1 forgot.
You cannot do that. You are already
married."
Hisreverenceagain interposed. with
submission, my lord, some explana-
tons will be asked. 1t will not GER
tainly be convenient to offer any. There
is, however, one way, and only one,
that I can suggest" He looked at
the Lady Anastasia. at will be per-
haps Mt first distasteful to her lady
ship. 1t has, however, the very great
advantage of securing the fortune,
which, take it, is what your lordship
chiefly desires. AS regards the girl,
she is, in point Of manners and appear
ance, SO far beneath your lordship's no.
tice that we need not consider her in
the matter"
Il care nothing about the girl. But
hang me If understand one single syl-
liable Of what you mean-or how you
can secure the fortune without the
girl"
"a moment. Madam saw her way
to the revenge Of Jealousy. She took
the place of the bride, and she was
married as Miss Molly. She signed the
name Of Molly Miller; the license was
In that name. The clerk who was
present has, am sure, already carried
the news all over the place. We have
the evidence, therefore, of the bride
groom, the parson, the clerk, the IL
cense and the registers. Who is to
prove that the real Molly was at home
NIL the time? Captain Crowle, perhaps,
though doubt. The girl herself But
who will believe her? My lord, you
nave married Miss Molly ana not the
Lady Anastasia."
1 what thenW
"You have only to claim your BRIDE"
"Sir, you forget that am the brideI'
Lady Anastnsia interposed quickly.
Mr.. Purden bowed and smiled, rub
bling his hands softly. with submits
sion, madam. do not advise that his
lordship should carry her off nor that
he should claim her ad mensam ct tho
rum, as we scholars say. His princi-
pies would not, am sure, allow that
he should carry off IN unmarried wom-
IN. Not at all. He will leave her with
| har friends Tr1 Io ~
do so. 1 suggest only that we should
proclaim the marriage and lay hands
upon the fortune"
"And what am to be?"
His lordship's best friend. You will
rescue him in his deepest need; you
Will restore him to affiuence. It will
be service, madam, of the purest and
most disinterested affection, instead Of
an ugly and ruinous revenge. Heav-
ems, can you hesitnte?"
They both looked Mt Anastasia, who
made no response, her eyes in her lap.
1.-THE trick will lie with us three"
the tempter went on. Neither of us
will reveal it."
"As regards jealousy, Anastasia,"
said Fylingdale, 1.-THE girl will be here,
and everything will continue just us
before"
She threw up her arms and sprang to
her feet. "Oh," she cried, at is the
most monstrous villainyw
1--WE need not think of the girl. We
must think of ourselves"
''The fortune is immense, Anastasia.
/ II 10
have SO much. We will leave her a
competence. and there are the jewels"
1 Iesiy acknowledgements .,u-r,ylins-
dale continued:
"1ou yourself will adorn these Jew
els. 1t will be my greatest pleasure to
atone for my Ill Judged deception By
giving you all those jewels-the dia-
monds, the rubies, the chains of pearls
and all the rest of the pretty, glittering
things" he took her hands, the par
son looking on all the time as physi-
clan looks on ut bloodletting or an
operation. What can that girl do
with the jewels? They shall all be
yours. Forgive me, Anastasia, and let
us again work together, rs we have al
ready done. you and l, with no more
Jealousy and no more suspicious
He kissed her hand. His manner
was changed almost suddenly; he be-
came soft, caressing and persuasive.
1t was the old charm, which the poor
lady could never resist. She suffered
him to hold her hand; she allowed him
to kiss her; her eyes grew humid.
"Oh," she murlnured, II must do ev-
erything you ask, Ludovic, If you are
only kindr'
Glow can l be anything but kind?"
he replied, with smile. "You must
forget and forgive. The thought that
all had schemed and planned for was
torn from me, and by you-Anastasia,
by you-was too much. My mind
was upset; knew not what I said.
Forgive me-"
| ooh, Ludovic, forgive"
/ "And the jewels shall atone, the love
ly jewels. You. shall have them ALL"
"You will truly give me the jewels n
"Truly, my Anastasia. After all, we
are man and wife. Henceforth we
shall only live for each other. Your
happiness shall be mine. The Jewels
shall be yours"
She yielded. She fell into his arms.
There was a complete, touching, rec
onciliation.
Lord Fylingdale was going to declare
that it was Molly and none other who
was married that morning at 6 o'clock
and to assume the rights and powers
of q husband. So that the news Of his
evil reputation came, after all, too late
to be Of any use. And as for explana-
lions, who would have the right to ask
any explanations Of married man on
behalf Of his wife?
The counsel learned in the law gave
his written opinion that, considering
that the marriage ceremony was fixed
for n. M, the bridegroom had no
knowledge of the BRIDES intention not
to present herself; that he left his
lodgings few minutes before 6; that
few minutes after 6 one Pentecrosse,
well known to the lady, witnessed the
marriage ceremony md hnlIeyel fine