Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-10-23

marriage. He has seen the entry in
the register. dare not alter them or
destroy single page. l have done
great deal for your lordship, but this
thing 1 cannot do. 1t is marriage,
say. You are married to the Lady An
astasia here"
"l'alk! Talk! Go after the man.
Bring back the man. Tear the keys
from him. Silence the man. Buy his
silence BY heaven, will murder him
In order to stop his tongue"
"Your lordship forgets your bride
your happy, smiling, innocent bride"
He cursed her. He raised his hand
rs If to strike her down. but forbore.
II told you," she continued, that in
everything I 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 Molly"
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 front?
1t was gone. He sat in the chair, up
right, 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 n 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 Fylingdale turned upon him
suddenly and cursed him for fool, an
ass, a villain, traitor. you are in
the plot" he said. "You knew all along.
You have been suborned."
'My lord, my lord, have patience.
What could know? I was hidden to
be here at G to marry you. supposed
that the bride was the fair Miss Molly.
l could not tell. know nothing. The
lady was in domino. 1t is irregular
to be married in domino, but your
lordship wished 1t. What could do?"
"Send for the key, then, and destroy
the registers"
"Alas, my lord, 1t is now, you may be
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 mock
ing smile of triumph. "You may muir
der me-" she said, "but you will not
undo the marriage. have been mar
ried, 1t is true, under a false name, but
I am married none the less"
"You have brought ruin upon us ALL"
her husband said, ruin, headlong
ruin. 1 am at my last guinea. can
raise no more money. have no more
credit. You yourself are as much dis
credited"
'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..
Purden stammered, for terror and be-
wilderment 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 ladyships rooms or elsewhere. We
must be private To curse and to
swear helps nothing, nor does it help
to talk of a jealous revenge. Let us
CO."
1t was with a tottering step, as If he
was smitten with palsy, that the BRIDE
groom walked down the aisle. The
bride put up her domino and threw hers
hood over her head and so, with the
parson. in silence, walked away from
the church to her lodging, leaving the
bridegroom to follow by himself. AS
yet the market people had not heard
the news.
But the news spread. The clerk told
his wife. II come from the church,"
he said. 81 have witnessed the mar
rlage of Miss Molly-Captain Crowle's
Molly-with the noble lord, who wears
the star and looks SO grand. A private
wedding it was. know not why. The
parson was the Rev. Mr.. Purden, he
vile leads the morning prayers and
pi' on Sunday"
IH. the clerks wife, slipping ON her
apro.-for such folk find the shelter Of
the apron for their hands necessary in
conversation-ran round to the pump.
room. No one was there as yet but
the two dippers. To them she COM
municated the news.
Then she went on to the market and
told all the people Of the town who
| were chaffering there.
| At z o'clock, the captain, walking in
his garden, was surprised by the ar
rival Of the horns, who stood before
the house and performed noble flour
lsh. "What the devil is that for?" said
the captain. Then there arrived the
butchers with their marrowbones and
cleavers and began to make their mu-
sic with zeal. The captain went out to
them. Up went their hats.
"Huzza for Miss Molly and her hus-
bandv'
"Her husband? What do you meant 2"
! "Her husband, his lordship; married
this morning"
"What?" The captain stared In
amazement. Then he rushed into the
house. Molly was in the kitchen.
"What is this?" he asked. "The butch
ers are here and the horns, and they
swear you We're married this morning,
Molly"
"Why, captain, l have not been out
side the door. am not married, u.s.
sure 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 ut heart
on account of the last nights discourse
and its discoveries.