The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1901-10-17

full, round hand without bad spelling.
The woman, therefore, is educated. My
dear, we may perhaps find the woman
My worthy and pious brother in orders
is most certainly in the conspiracy
When there are three, one is generally
traitor. TO begin with, the scheme is
both bold and dangerous. 1t is the
first step toward obtaining a large sum
of money under false pretenses. Their
necks are in danger, even the neck of a
noble earl
1T is uncomfortable" he went on aft
er a little reflection, chow a woman
could be found to play such part. She
must be the mistress Of the earl No
other could be trusted
"What should be done meantime?'
eve must meet the enemy on his own
ground. He spreads abroad the report
that he married Molly this morning.
We must publicly and openly deny the
fact. Captain, there will be large
company at the assembly this evening.
L
with you. Jack shall put on his Sun
day best and shall also go with u.s. We
must be prepared for an impudent
claim, and we must be ready with a
prompt denial. Let us court public
ity.''
This was clearly the best advice pos
sible. We were left unmolested all
the afternoon, though the captain made
me stay as a kind Of garrison in case
of any attempt at abduction being
made
In the evening Molly in her chair and
dressed in her finery was carried to the
gardens, while the captain, the vicar
and myself formed a bodyguard.
We arrived after the dancing had be-
gun. Lady Anastasia was looking on,
but her court of ladies and young men
for some reason seemed to have melt
ed away. She stood almost alone, save
for the support of the old beau Sir Har-
ry. The colonel was also with her, and
the Rev. Benjamin Purden stood be-
hind her.
The music was in the gallery at the
end Of the long room. The dancing was
carried on in the middle. Lady Anas-
tasia was standing on the right Of the
gallery, most of the company on the
left. Molly, with the captain and fol-
lowed by the vicar and myself, turned
to the left
On her entrance all eyes were fixed
upon the newly made countess. She
had come without her lord! Was this
part Of the secret-a secret known to
all the world-or was his lordship, be-
fore the whole company, about to lead
his bride to the first place, as became
her newly acquired rank? Some Of the
ladies regarded her with looks of ha-
tired, the successors of the looks of
scorn with which they had first vel
coined her. Most Of them, however,
were kindly. \ tale of love always
meets with a friendly reception. Not
a woman in the place but would have
taken her place with joy unmeasured.
AS no other woman could, they were
ready to accept their fate and to make
friends with the successful and the
fortunate winner Of so great a prize.
1t was a great prize. indeed, if they
only knew.
The minuets were over and the coun-
try dance was about to begin when
Lord Fylingdale arrived, followed, as
usual, by his secretary. He stood at
the door; he looked around. Then,
with the cold pride which never failed
him, he stepped across the room and
bowed low to Molly. "A1adam," he
said, with your permission, we will
dance this country dance together be-
fore take you away with me-"
my lord" replied Molly aloud. so
that the whole company heard and
trembled, II shall not dance with YOU
this evening nor on any other even
ing
"She will never again dance with
you, my lord. Nor will she hold any
discourse with you. Nor will she will
1ngly admit you to her presence" It
was the vicar who spoke, because the
man and the occasion proved too much
for the good old captain. who could
only roll thunderously between his
teeth things more fitted for the uuell-
ing of a mutiny than for dealing with
such man as his lordship
"Pray, SIR" said Lord Fylingdale,
stepping back, what is the meaning
of this? Pray, madam"-he turned to
Molly-"what is the meaning Of this