Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-10-16

/ NetSA hAh ShiiiuS IL WIN yOu
and we have built gardens and engag
ed musicians ayd created spa, and
oh, heavens, What liar he is! What
q liar! This comes, suppose, of being
q poet"
Then Molly laid her head upon my
arm. "Jack," she said very seriously
do you really believe this story? Only
consider what 1t means to me-" Molly
was more concerned about Lord Fly.
lingdale than about Sam Semple.
Il believe every word Of it, Molly. l
believe that they have all Joined In the
conspiracy, more or less; that they
have all got promises and that tomor.
row morning, If you do not refuse to
meet this man in st. Nicholas church,
you will bring upon yourself nothing
but misery and ruin"
II have promised to meet him. l
must at least send him a message, If
only to say that shall not come"
~ should like to send him nothing,
but you are right. 1t is best to be
courteous. Well, you may send him a
letter. l will myself take 1t to the
Crown"
"But afterward, Jack7 What shall
we do afterward? If he is innocent,
he will take offense. II not
IF you were engaged to marry a
young merchant, Molly, or to skip
per and you heard rumors of bank
ruptcy, drink or evil courses, what
would you dor
II would tell him that I had heard
such and such about him, and should
ask for explanations"
"Then do exactly the same with Lord
Fylingdale. He is accused of certain
things. The captain must make in
quiry. He is bound to inquire. Why,
the vicar himself says that he would,
IL necessary, in order to ascertain the
truth, travel all the way to London,
there to learn the foundations, If any,
for these charges, and afterward into
Worcestershire, where his country
mansion stands, to learn on the spot
what the tenants and the people Of
the country know of him."
"But suppose he refuses explana-
tons. He is too proud to be called to
account"
'Then send him packing. Lord or
no lord, proud or humble. If he fur
nishes explanations, If these things
are untrue, then-why. then you will
consider what to do. But, Molly, do
not believe that any explanations will
be Forthcoming and that your noble
lover will carry 1t of to the end with
the same lofty pride and cold mien."
"Let us go into the parlor. Jack
There are the captains writing mate.
rails. Help me to say what is proper.
Oh, is 1t possible? CansI believe 1T?
Are these things true7 That proud
man, raised above his fellows by his
virtues and his rank and his princi-
pies! Jack, he risked his life for me-"
"Ask no more questions, Molly. We
must have explanations. Let us write
the letter.
1t was Molly's first letter-the only
letter, perhaps, that she will ever write
in oil her life. Certainly she had never
written one before, nor has she ever
written one since. Like most house
wives, her writing is only wanted for
household accounts, recipes for pud-
dings and pies and the labelling of her
bottles and Jars. I have the letter be-
fore me at this moment. 1t is written
in large, sprawling hand, and the
spelling Is not such as would satisfy
my father.
Naturally she looked to me for adj
vice. had written many letters to
my owners and to foreign merchants
about cargoes. and the like. and was
therefore able to advise the compost
ton Of q letter which should be
Justly expressed and to lie point:
"Ronored Lord-This is from me ut
the present moment in my guardians
parlor' writing parlor when I as mate
Of the ship should have written port or
harbor. sit is to inform you that in
telligence has been brought by letters
from London and Cambridge. Touch
ing the matters referred to in these let
ters, have to report for your satisfac-
ton that they call your lordship in
round terms gamester and ruined
rake and your companions at the spa
viz, Sam Semple, the parson, the rick
ETY. old beau and the colonel-simple
rogues, common cheats and sharpers.
Shall not, therefore, meet your lord
ship at the church tomorrow morning
rs instructed. Awaiting your lordship's
explanations and commands, your most
obedient, humble servant,
MOLLY"
This letter folded, sealed. addressed
and dropped into my pocket. Then /
bade Molly good night, entreated her
to be thankful for her escape and SO
left her with a light heart. Verify 1t
seemed US II the sadness Of the last
two months had been wholly and sud
denly lifted, and on my way back to
the Grown passed the Lady Anasta-
sia's lodging just as her chair was
brought to the house. l opened the
door for her and stood hat in hand.
why, 1t is Jack!' she cried. at is
the sailor Jack, the constant lover.
Have you anything more to tell me?'
"Only that Molly will not keep that
appointment of tomorrow evening"
"Oh, that interesting appointment in
st. Nicholas church. May a body ask
why the ceremony has been postpon-
edT
Things have been disclosed at the
last moment, fortunately in time"
What things, and by whom?"
"By letter. 1t is stated as a fact well
known that Lord Fylingdale is nothing
better than ruined rake and notori.
GUS gamester."
Indeed! The excellent Lord Fyling.
dale! Impossible! Quite impossible
The illustrious example Of SO many
virtues! The explanations will be, ]
am sure, complete and satisfactory
Ruined; rake; a notorious gamester!
What next will the world say? Does
his lordship know Of this discovery:
Not yet? You said it was discovery,
did you not? Well, my friend, am
much obliged to you for telling me-
You are quite sure Molly will not he
there? Very good Of you to tell me-
For my own part start for London
quite early at 8 o'clock. Goodby