Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-10-03

There was never n CLEAN of love in his
eye nor a note of love in his voice.
Why, except that he might get my
money!
THAT is, l am convinced, the rca.
| SON"
"Nil!ainy, villainy, villainy! Jack,
| this Is n conspiracy. Some woman has
bccn made to play my part Then he
! will claim me us his wife and lay
hands upon all that l have
"No, Molly; he shall not while you
have friends
"Frlcnds cannot help where the law
! orders otherwise. So much know,
| Jack. Yet you can do one thing for
me. You can protect me from the
man. He must not take me away"
"All Lynn will fight for YOU"
"Jack, want more | want all Lynn
to believe me. You have known me all
my life. Am capable of such change
of mind! Am | capable of SO mon
strous n falechood as TO steal out t.
marry the man and then to declare that
| have never left the house? oh, the
villain, the villain" Her cheek was
nflamc; her eyes flashed.
| seized her hand. Molly" cried.
"thcy shall all believe you. will tell
the truth everywhere"
lust then the garden door was thrown
open. and Sam Scmp!c appeared. With
a smiling face and n bending knee ho
advanced, bowling low.
Permit me TO offer congratulations
to the Countess of Fylingdalc."
81 am not n countess. l am plain
Molly Miller"
sam looked disconnected and puzzled
! perceived that, plot or no plot, be h, i
no hand in it.
II am come" he said, from his lord.
ship
Il have nothing to do with his lord
ship"
surely, madam: surely. my lady
there is some MISUNDERSTANDING. ! ala
sent by his lordshp with his comnii-
mcnts 70 ask when it viii be convcn.
lent for the countess to receive him"
You have been informed. I Suppose
that l was married tc him this morI.
ing"
"Tcrtainly my lady"
Then 30 back TO Lord Fylnrlaic
and tell him that he is n villain and y
liar that | have learned his true char
actcr that am not married TO him
nnl that If he ventures to modest re
my friends will protect me. Give him
that message sir, word for word"
Il believe, Sam" | said, for his dis
contlturG and bewildcrment madc him
reel and staggcr, that sou have no
hand in this new villany. II was YOU,
however, who brought tt3t man to
Lynn, knowing his true character arG
his antecedcnts. Let Us never see vow.
face here again. Go. If thoHght you
were IN the plot, | would ccYya y0a
again rs tho captain served vow tAree
years ego"
He went away without anctacr word.
Then the captain came home his
face troubled.
~ know not" ho said, "what has
happened IL this place. l have snc1
Lore! Eyl!ngdalc. told him e the
charges aEG y"crsations."
We'll, did he deny them"
"Iic denied nothing, Gnd he admit.
ted nothing. He says that ycu married
him tbs morning, Molly"
Il know. He has sent Sam "nmplc
here with the same story. Captain,
you beiicce nc, 90 you not"
"DclloYc ycr, Molly? Why. Il did
not believe you, should believe moth
Ing. Believe Won: My dear, ! would
as soon doubt the prayer book He
laid his hand upon her arm and the
tears cam" into his eyes. My dear, |
hdy" been an old fool. But did it lpr
III" best lie says that YOU ar" his
wife. Let him c2mc and take you--if
Ne an"
1T is not Molly that he would tale,
\ is Moi.r'H fortune"
"WG., sir" she said. IF he takes the
Who'll" and wastes and diSsipatrs IT, 50
long as hc does not take me, what does
it matt"r:"
TE"n the vicar cNuo again, and the
whole of the business had to be dis
, cu~S"d again. At first he adhered to
; his theory Of unconscious action, be-
''''' 90 ~ llNi'i ''lN ~ llh''N " - an
; every theory by Examples chosen rom
Latin and Greek authors. lie had
, looked w several more stories of the
Kind from know not what folio vol
, unCS in his library ana came prepared
: to defend LIS opinion. But the ah"o-
lutte certainty Of Molly's assertion, the
- evidence Of hcr mother, who dccl.H'cd
! that Molly had been working with her
, since hale past >, the lirm belief of the
+ captain ANA my own change of opinion
ana the possibility of deception shook
hn!.
. Finally he abandoned his learned
t view and accepted our more mo ,orn
explanations of the case viz. that the
marriage was Il sham and th"t the
t woWan was seine creature surorucl
, to ucrsoHat" Molly.
"Hut what woman can she be-" ask
ed III" vicar. "Shc can write. | have
seen the registers. She has signed n a
ms sTtsPrn scsocs ros:i AID
, | BOWED Low 40 soltr.
s.
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