The times., 1901-04-21


country around Lynn perfectly well un-
derstocd at once that she had been car
ried outside the town; that she was no
longer on the highroad. but on one of the
cross tracks-one cannot call them roads
which connect the villages so that there
was very little chance of meeting any
passengers or vehicles. And by the stars
she saw that they were carrying her in
a northerly direction. perhaps to South
Wootten.
She perceived, therefore that some
devilry was going on. Now she was
not a girl who would try to help her
self in such q deserted and lonely spot
10y Shrieking. nor did she see that any
good purpose would be served by call
ing to the Chairrnen to let her out. She
sat up, therefore. her heart beating a
little faster than usual. and considered
what she should do.
Molly, though not a woman of fash
lon understood by this time her value,
especially in the eyes of the adventurer
and she also understood quite clearly at
this moment that she had been carried
away without the knowledge of her guar
dian and that the intention of the abduc-
ton was nothing more or less than a
forced marriage and the acquisition of her
fortune. Jack, she told me after
ward. Il confess that / did wish, just
along the road with a trusty club. but
then ! remembered that / was no puny
threadpaper of a woman, but as strong as
most men, and / took courage.
Weapon ! had none except a steel bod
kin. gilt, stuck in my hair-a small thing
but it might serve if any man ventured
too near, and ] thought. besides. that
there would be a hue and cry and that the
country round would be secured in all di-
reCtiOns. They would most certainly grow
tired of carrying me about in chair,
they must stop somewhere and put me
into some place or other. ] thought also
that ] could easily manage to keep off one
man, or perhaps two, and that il would
be very unlikely that more than one
would attempt to force me into marriage.
Perhaps | might escape. Perhaps my bod
kin might help me to save myself. 1
would willingly stab a man to the heart
with il. Perhaps | might pick up some
thing-a griddle would be a weapon handy
for Draining a manor even a frying pan
would do. Whatever happened, Jack, |
was resolved that nothing, not even fear
of murder, should make me marry the
man who had carried me off.
There are found scattered about the by
roads of the country many small inns for
the accommodation of persons Of the
baser sort.
1t was before such a wayside inn that
the chairmcn stopped Molly knew 1t very
well. II was at a place called Rillley' S
Spring. The name of the house waS the
Travellers 5 Rest, and il stood just two
miles and half from Lynn and one mile
or SO from the village of South Wootten.
It was small house, gloomy and ill-light-
ed at the best. There was a door IN the
middle. The diamond panes in the win
uOWS were mostly broken IN tnelT lpdnCD
frames; the woodwork was decaying; the
upper floor projecting, darkened the low
or rooms. In the dim twilight, when the
chair stopped. the house looked a dark
and noisome place, nj only for cutthroats
and murdcTers
The poles were withdrawn and the door
thrown open. Molly, looking out, saw be-
fore her, hat in hand, her late partner. the
young fellow they called Tom Rising.
On, she cried. is 1t possible? ]
thought was in the hands of some high
wayman Is this your doing, sir? | was
told that you were gentleman
He bowed low and began little speech
which he had prepared in readiness
Madam, you will confess that you are
yourself alone TO blame. Fired with the
sight OF so much lOveliness. what wonder
If ! aSpired to possess myself Of these
charms? Sure. Laplander himself would
be warmed even in his frozen region by
such
Sir, what nonsense is this? What do
you mcan2'
i mean, madam. that your lovely face
and figure should be sufficient excuse not
only in the eyes of the world but in yNur
own eyes, for IN action such as this. The
violence of the passion which"
Sir, VIII you order your fellows to take
me back?'
No. madam: / viii not
Then, SIR. VIII you tell me what you
propose TO do?"
i intend TO marry YOU"
Against my cOnsent?'
Il have you in my power ! shah. how
ever. ask your consent. If you grant it.
We SHAH enter upon married life as a pair
OF lovers should. If you refuse | shall
be the master. but you Will be the wife. -
Molly laughed. You think that | am
afraid? Very wei; sir. If you persist,
that viii cost your life"
Everything is fair in love Come.
madam, you viii please TO get out of the
What a villain is this?" said Molly.
He is in love with my fortune, and he
pretcnds it is my person. He thinks
70 steal my fortune when ne runs away
with me You are hghwavmaU Mr.
Rising, common thief and common
robber. You shall be hanged outside
Norwich Castle"
Tom Rising swOre a great oath, cali
ing. in his blasphemous way upOn tho
Lord TO infict dire pains and penalties
upon him II he should resign the lovely
object Of his affection, now in his pos
session. You have heard that he had
the reputation of a reckless daredevil
who stuck at nothing, was daunted by
nothing and was like a bulldog for his
tenacity.
this declaration, Il am resolved TO marry
you-resolved. Bear that i'm mind
And / sir. am resolved that ! will not
marry you-resolved. Bear that in mind. "
7thng but ! had it. 10; never yet"
Mr. Rising, you think you have me
in your power. You shall see. Once
more J ask you, as a gentleman, 10 send
me back. Remember, | have many
friends The whole town high and low.
VIII be presently out after me, securing
tn country IN every direction"
In an hour you will be at Wootten.
The parsOn hath promised to await us
there. You shall be my wife within one
short hour.
You waste words. sir"
You will have TO alight. madam. The
Ha-sn il NsaFH
ten, where the parsOn waits to marry us.
In an hour, J say, YOU shall be my wife
Molly looked out Of the other window
The post chaiSe was there with its pair
horses heads. She would have TO make
her stand at once. therefore. To get into
the post chaisc with that man would be
dangerous even though she was as strong
as himself and, since she was not a drlak-
er OF wine, she was in better condition
~ looked round at the house" she told
me alterward. Il thought that If | could
get into the house ! might gain some time
perhaps / could bar the door, perhaps /
Could find that griddle or the frying pan
of which ] spoke Or If II came TO using
the bodkin there would be more room for
my arm IN 4 house than IN a chair or
chalse. So / had one more parley il
order TO gain time and then slipped out %
Sir. she said. Il give you one more
chance Of retaining the name and repu-
tatiOn or gentleman. Carry me back or
else await the vengeance Of my friends
! warn you sOlemnly that murder will be
done before ! marry you: understand sir,
murder Of you or of your confederates or
of myself.
She spoke with so much calmness and
with so much resolution that she aroused
all his native obstinacy Besides it was
now too late. The news OF the abduction
would be all over Lynn; he must carry
the thing through. He swore another
loud and blasphemous oath. Heavens,
How he was punished, How swiftly and
speedily,
MollN stcpDed out of the chair Tom