The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-12

Z
There is no one but ourselves in the YES
! try" (For the clerk, having locked the
box and accepted the guinea bestowed up
! on him by the bridegroom, was now
| tramping down the church and through
the porch. No one but themselves was in
! the vestry or the church, You may
| therefore take off your domino.
As your lordship pleases.' Lord Fly
| lingdale started. Whose voice was that?"
| AS you order | obey" So the bride re-
moved her domino and threw back the
hood.
The bridegroom started. What is this?''
he cried, furious with certain words which
Were out of place in church,
! Lady Anastasia!" cried Mr.. Purden.
| Good Lord Then we are all undonei
What does 1t mean9 Tell me, she devil
| What docs II mean? Where is Molly?
But this is play acting This is not
Il fear, my lord" said the parson, that
it is a marriage. The registers are in the
strong box. hey cannot he altered.
| Go after the clerk. man. Order him
| to give up the keys Tear the pages out
Il cannot" said Mr.. Purden. Il dare
| not. The man is witness of this mar
| riage. He has seen the entry in the reg
| lister. ] dare not alter them or destroy
single page. l have done great deal for
your lOrdship. but this thing | cannot do:
1t is a marriage l say You are married
to the Lady Anastasia here"
Talk Talk! Go after the man. Bring
| back the man. Tear the KEYS from him.
| Silence the man. Buy his silence. By
=, will murder him in order to stop
his tonguer
Your lordship forgets your bride-your
happy. smiling, innocent bride.
| He cursed her He raised his hand as
if to strike her down, but forbore.
Il told YOU" she continued. that in
| everything / was at your service-eX-
| cept in one thing. Tear the registers
| murder the clerk-but the bride will be
! left. And If you murder her as well
| you will be no nearer the possession of
| the lovely MollV."
The bridegroom sank into chair. He
| was terrible to look at, for his wrath and
| disappointment deprived him of the power
of speech. Where was now the cold and
naughty front2 1t was gone He sat in
the chair. upright. his face purple, his
eyes starting from his head, as one who
hath some kind of fit.
The clergyman, still in his white sur
plice, looked on and trembled. for his
old pupil was in a murderous frame of
mind. There was no knowing whom
he might murder. Besides, he had be-
fore this OWNED the true meaning of
the visit to Lynn, and he foresaw ruin
to himself as well as his patron.
Lord Fylngdale turned upon him sud
denly and-eursed him for a fool. ass.
a villain, a traitor. You are in the plot.
he said. You knew all along. You have
been suLCrned.
My lord. my lord. have patience What
could know? / was hidden to be here at
was the fair Miss Molly. | could not tell.
/ knew nothing. The lady was in a DOM
inc. 1t is Irregular to be married in
domino, but your lordship wished it.
| What could l do?''
Send for the key. then, and destroy the
registers"
sure all over the town that you have been
married. and to Miss Molly
| Where is Molly? Where is Molly then?
/ Why did she keep away"
The bride looked on with her hooking
| smile of triumph. You may murder me"
she said. but you will not undo the mar
| riage. | have been married. it is true I'M
der false name, but am married none
| the less.
You have brought ruin upon us all"
| her husband said. ruin, headlong ruin. l
| money. ] have no more credit. You your
| self are as much discredited."
IF you are ruined. the lady replied.
you are rightly punished How many
| vows have you made to me? How many
lies have you invented to keep me quiet?"
With submission, my lord, Mr.. Pur-
| den stanImered, for terror and bewilder-
ment held him This is a bad mornings
! work. Let me advise that before the
town is awake we leave the church and
| talk over the business in her ladyship's
! To curse and 10 swear helps nothing, nor
does II help to talk of a jealous revenge.
Let 60.
! 1t was with a tottering step. as If he
was smitten with palsy, that the bride
groom walked down the aisle. The bride
put NJ her domino and threw her hood
I
silence, walked away fror le church to
her lodging, leaving TIE bridegroom to fol-
low by himself. AS yet the market people
had not heard the news.
But the news spread. The clerk told
his wife. Il come from the church." he
said Il have witnessed the marriage OF
Miss Molly-Captain Crowle's Molly-with
the noble lord, who wears the star and
looks so grand. A private wedding 1t was.
| l know not why The parson was the
Rev. MIR. Purden, he who reads the morn
fr,rr md hos
| Then the clerks wife, slipping on her
apron--for such folk find the shelter OF
the apron for their hands necessary in
| conversatfon-tan round to the pump
room. No one was there as yet but the
two dippers. To them she communicated
the news.
told all the people OF the town who were
chamering there
At O'Clock. the captain walking I'm his
garden, was surprised by the arrival Of
the horns, who stood before the house
and performed noble flourish. What
the devil is that for2" said the captain.
Then there arrived the butchers with
their marrowbones and cleavers and be-
gan to make their music with zeal. The
captain went out TO them. Up went their
hats
'Huzza for Miss Molly and her hus-
! band,'
Her husband? What do Won mean?"
Her husband. his lordship; married
this morning"
"what?'' Then captain stared in
| amazement. Then he rushed into the
| house. Molly was in the kitchen. What
| Is this?" he asked. 1.-The butchers are
here and the horns. and they swear you
! were married this morning. Molly"
| why, captain, | have not been outside
the door. ! am not married, / assure you,
and ! begin TO think now that | never
shall be married
The captain went out and dismissed the
| musicians. but the thing troubled HIM.
and he was already sick at heart on ac-
count of the last nights discourse and its
discoveries.