The times., 1901-04-28
The Lady Of Lynn.
Copyrighted 1900 by Sir Walter Besant.)
By SIR WALTER BESANT.

back: he roared like bull; he rushed
upon his enemy; he painted and gasped,
but he continued the fight undaunted.
Suddenly his sword few out of his
hand and fell in the field beside the
chaise.
Pick up your masters sword Lord
I'ylingdale ordered the chairmen.
The spectators looked to see Tom run
through on the spot On the contrary,
Lord Fylingdale remained in his attitude
Of defence. He was playing with his
enemy.
Take yosr sword" he said. You are
at my mercy. But take your sword, man.
We have only Just begun
Tom received hls sword and wiped the
mud upon his shirt Then he renewed the
attack. But il was with less confidence.
! That one should refuse to finish the duel
when he had disarmed his adversary was
a thing beyond his experience.
Tom is dashed, said one of the COM
pany. 1t is all over with Tom.
1t was. After a few more lunses, par
ried with the same quiet skill and calm
ness of manner. Toms sword once more
f, flew out of his hand Then the duel was
over, for Lord Fylingdale made one
thrust. and his sword passed clean
through the right arm at the shoulder,
passing out at the other side Tom reeled;
One of his chairmen ran to his help. ana
he fell upon the ground, fainting in
small pool of blood.
Lord FylingdaIe paid no attention to
him. He wiped his sword on the grass.
replaced it in the scabbard, and put on
his coat and waistCoat. This done, he ad-
Vanced to Molly.
Madam he said. we are fortunate.
indeed, in being able to effect a rescue.
/ This Is not a place for a lady, nor is this
a sight that one would willingly offer
you: l trust that no violence has been
Il thank your lordship 1t was horrid
sight. oh. do not let the poor man die
He is villain, but he has failed. Be
Then the captain came running up.
Molly" he cried with the tears running
late? They haven't married you? The
villain is paid. He is paid. ] take it. He
hasn't married you yet? BY heaven, if he
has ] viii brain him with my cudgel so
you shall be a widow as soon as a wife
Captain, can you ask me? The man
had a chaiSe waiting here and would have
forced me into it. But l ran into the
he could not follow. He set his men to
pull off the thatch What he would have
done next l know not. But l could de-
fend myself
What is that in your hand, MolIy?"
It was the knife, which she still held in
readiness She threw il away. Il shall
not need it now, she said. What do you
think should have done with it2
Molly, | know what you would have
done. l said that there was no man in
England who could marry you against
Your Will 1t was his heart and not his
should that would have received the knife
My dear, l knew my Molly. L knew my
girl
Then the other gentlemen crowded
round, offering their congratulations, no
one taking the least notice of the unlucky
Tom, who still lay pale and bleeding
the ground.
1t was Lord FylingdaIe who came to his
assistance. Here, fellow" he ordered
the chairman. Take up your master and
put him into the chair So, and as for
you, he addressed the post boy, here is
a guinea Drive as fast as you can back
TO Lynn. Put him to bed in his lodging
ana SEND Tor surgeon or wise woman
or some one TO look after his wound
VIII he die2' asked one of the by
ISLANDERS.
i should think it not unlikely. His
wound is dangerous. and, if l know any
thing about a man, from his appearance
/ should say that he would he inclined to
fever. But we are not concerned with his
tate, whether he dies or lives; he has at
tempted a villainous act and has met with
fitting punishment"
The carriage with the wounded man in
IL Went rafting along the road, the jerks
ana bumps among the ruts being enough
flowing
Then Lord Fylingdale called the chair
men, Who are your he asked do
You belong to the town of Lynn?"
They looked at each other. Then one
SAID: NO. We be from Swaffham
Squire Rising sent for US to do this job
Put in your poles You must now
carry the lady back"
We have done our work" said his
Iordship- 1t remains for us to escort
Miss Molly home again. Madam, YOU can
leave this foul den with the consciousness
that YOU are avenged"
Indeed, ] want no revenge"
Justice has been done Justice IS not
revenge You can now. madam go back
IN the chair in which YOU were brought
mere. The villain who made the attempt
Is already on his way back. Since you de-
sire mercy rather than revenge we must
hope that his wound is not fatal
SO Molly re-entered the chair Then she
was brought home in triumph The can
tain rode on one side. her champion on
the other before and behind rode her
mounted escort. If she had been a queen
they could not have shown her greater
Difference and respect.