Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-10-09

man had phi; pn his sunday suit, with
white silk stockings, and he wore his
sword, To which, as the former COM
mander of ship he was entitled.
II am come, captain, to receive in
person your answer to the message
conveyed to you yesterday by my en-
bassador. | hope that the message
was delivered faithfully and with due
respect"
II believe, my lord, with both"
Il assure you, Captain Crowle, that
the respect have conceived for your
character and loyalty is more than
can express in words. That you have
inspired in the mind Of your ward sim
liar virtues l do not doubt, and this
confidence, believe me, has much to do
with the offer Of my hand to that
young lady"
your lordship does me the greatest
honor My answer is that accept in
Molly's name, and joyfully."
II am delighted. This should be-
he added colby, "the happiest day of
my life"
when we spread the news abroad,
everybody in Lynn will feel that the
greatest honor has been done to the
town, as well as to this house"
"Sir, you overrate my position. Still,
however, we must keep the matter Sc
cret for day or two yet. I engage
you, captain, to profound secrecy"
las long as you please, my lord. The
sooner l may speak of it the better I
shall like it, for / am bursting with
joy and satisfaction"
Patience, captain, for day or two"
The captain became serious, even
melancholy. "You will take her away,
1 suppose?"
II fear l must. A married man gen.
orally takes away his wife, does he
notw
"You will take her to your country
house and to London. Well, am old.
I am IS already. cannot expect ever
to see her again. Her mother, how
ever, is not so old by 80 years. Per-
haps your lordship will at some time
or other-we would not remind you Of
your lady's humble folk-allow her, If
she Is within an easy Journey, to come
here to see her mother"
Surely, surely, captain. Could 1 be
SO hard hearted as to refuse? Her
mother, certainly, or yourself, but not
any of her old friends, not the friends
of her childhood, such as that young
sailor man. nor the girls of the place"
II care not for them SO that 1 may
comfort her poor mother with that
promise. AS for myself, who am I
that l should intrude upon her? Let
me die happy in the knowledge that
she is happy"
"She will be as happy as the day is
long, captain"
II doubt it not. AS for Jack Pente-
crosse, an old playfellow, he is like me.
He loves her rs IL she was his sister,
but he desires nothing but the knowl-
edge of the girls happiness"
II accept your assurance, captain,
that he will not endeayor to seek her
or to visit her."
HE will not. My lord"-the captain
became very serious-"I can promise
you a well conditioned, virtuous, mod
est, obedient and dutiful wife, She will
ask for nothing but continuance of
your lordship's affection and consider
alton, In return for which she will be
your willing servant as well as your
wife,"
"Again, captain, doubt 1t not, else 1
should not be here"
"And when the day comes-when you
pass the word, my lord-the bells shall
ring, and the music shall play, and all
the town shall make holiday, and we
will have such a feast and merrymak-
ing that all the country round shall
ring With My lord, am SO happy"
"But, captain, have not yet received
the consent of the lady"
"Be assured that you will have It.
But the girl is shy and hesitates, being,
to say the truth, dazzled by the rank to
which she is to be raised. A young
maids modesty will perhaps hinder
such freedom of speech as you would
naturally desire"
II hope, sir. that l am able to appre-
ciate and value the virtue of modesty.
ALI l ask of the young lady is her, con-
sent
"of that you may be assured before
hand"
"Then, captain, as this is an occasion
Of some awkwardness and one which it
is well to get through as quickly as
possible"-did one ever hear Of such q
lover?-"well, to get through as quickly
as possible"-his first interview with
his mistress-"you will perhaps bring
Miss Molly to me or take me to her."
Mnllu mannw hila u,nr L., hon l,ol.oox,,