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

| dale, who looked, if one may say so Of
a bridegroom, peevish and i'll at ease,
raised his glass. '"To your happiness,
Molly" he said.
So all was finished. "You are going
home, Molly?" he asked. 'For the
present-that is to say, for a day or
two-it will be best. shall claim YOU
very soon. There is no one but our
selves in the vestry." (For the clerk,
having locked the box and accepted the
guinea bestowed upon him by the bride
groom, was now tramping down the
church and through the porch. No one
| but themselves was in the vestry or
| the church, You may therefore take
| off your domino"
LAS your lordship pleases' Lord
Fylingdale started. Whose voice was
that? "As you order I obey" So the
bride removed her domino and threw
back the hood.
The bridegroom started. "What is
this?" he cried, furious with certain
words which were out of place in a
| church.
LADY Anastasiav' cried Mr.. Purden.
"Good Lord! Then we are all undone"'
"What does it mean? Tell me, she
devil! What does it mean? Where is
Molly? But this is play acting. This
is not marriage"
Il fear, my lord" said the parson,
that it is a marriage. The registers
are in the strong box. They cannot
be altered
go after the clerk, man. Order him
to give up the keys. Tear the pages
out Of the registers
II cannot" said Mr.. Purden. II dare
not. The man is a witness of this
marriage. He has seen the entry in
the register. I dare not alter them or
destroy a single page. I have done a
great deal for your lordship, but this
thing 1 cannot do. 1t is a marriage, I
say. You are married to the Lady An
astasia here"
"Talk! Talk! Go after the man.
Bring back the man. Tear the keys
from him. Silence the man. Buy his
silence. By heaven, I 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
as if to strike her down, but forbore.
Il 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 we'll
you will be no nearer the possession of
the lovely Molly"
The bridegroom sank into a 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?
It 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 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 we'll 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? l was hidden to
be here at 6 to marry you. l supposed
that the bride was the fair Miss Molly
1 could not tell. know nothing. The
lady was in a domino. 1t is irregular
to be married in a domino, but your
lordship wished it. What could do?'
"Send for the key, then, and destroy
the registers
"Alas, my lord, it 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. l have been mar
ried, it is true, under false name, but
l am married none the less.''
"You have brought ruin upon us ALL
her husband said, ruin, headlong
ruin. l am at my last guinea. I can
raise no more money. I 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 quietT'
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 ladyship's 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 SmittQn with nolcu 4bo+ 4bo 1,u:as