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

vicar. rake these two letters. Show
them to Molly and ask her to wait
while the captain makes inquiries. If
Lord Fylingdale is an honorable man,
he will court inquiry. If not, then we
are well rid Of a noble knave."
took the letters and ran across the
empty market place. On my way
saw the captain. He was walking to-
ward the Crown, with hanging head.
Let us first deal with the captain.
BE entered the room, hung up his hat
on the usual peg and put his stick in
Its accustomed corner. Then he took
his seat and looked round.
II am glad" he said, that there is
none present except you two. My
friends, am heavy at heart"
$50 are we" said the vicar. "But 20
on, captain"
"You have heard, perhaps, rumor
of what has been arranged?'
"There are rumors of many kinds.
+ The place is full of rumors. 1t is ru.
mored that II certain Colonel Lanyon
is Il sharper. 1t is also rumored that
Sam Semple is n villain. 1t is fur
ther rumored that the Rev. Benjamin
Purden is disgrace to the cloth, and
there is yet another rumor. What ia
your rumor, captain?'
Lord Fylingdale proposes to marry
Molly, and have accepted, and she
has accepted, but 1t was to be pro-
found secret"
at is so profound a secret that the
company Mt the gardens this evening
are talking about nothing else"
The captain groaned. II have received
a letter." he said. II do not believe 1t,
but the contents IRE disquieting. There
is no signature. Read it."
The vicar read it: Captain Crowle-
Sir, you are n very simple old man.
You are SO ignorant of London and of
the fashionable world that you do not
even know that Lord Fylingdale, to
whom you are about to give your ward,
is the most notorious gambler, rake and
profigate in the whole Of that quarter
where the people Of fashion and of
quality carry on their profligate lives.
In the interests of innocence and yir-
ture make some inquiry into the truth
of this statement before laying your
lovely ward in the arms of the villain
who has come to Lynn with no other
object than to secure her fortune"
ut is an anonymous letter." said the
vicar, "but there is something to be
said in support Of it. From what
source did you derive your belief in the
virtues Of this young nobleman?
From Sam Semple."
"Who is in the service Of his lordship,
know not what he does for him, but II
he is turned out of that service he will
infallibly be clapped into a debtors
prison."
"There is also that grave and reyer-
end divine''-
"The man Purden. He is notorious
for writing ribald verses and for lead
ing life that is a disgrace to his pro-
fession."
There is also the Lady Anastasia."
II know nothing about her ladyship
except that she keeps the bank, as they
call 1t, every evening and that the gam
ing table allures many to their destruc-
tion."
"My friends" said the captain, "what
am to dol"
You must make inquiry. You must
tell Lord Fylingdale that things have
been brought to you; that you cannot
believe them If, Us is possible, you do
not, but that you must make inquiries
before trusting your ward to his pro-
lection. You are her guardian, cap
tain"
II am more than her guardian. l
love her better than IL she was nv own
child" "
Eve know you do. captain. There.
fore write letter to him. Tell him
these things. Say that you must have
time to make these inquiries. / will
help you with the letter. And tell him
as well that you must have time to
draw up settlements. II he is honest.
he will consent to this Investigation
into his private character. II he wants
Molly and not her money bag, he will
at once agree to the settlement of her
fortune upon herself"
II am an old fool, I SUPPOSE" said
the captain. 81 have believed every
thing and everybody. Yet I cannot
no, my friends, cannot think that this
man, SO proud, SO brave, who risked his
life for Molly, is what this letter says -
"Other letters say the same thing.
Now, captain, let us Write.n