Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-09-25

no light?'
She heard the striking of flint and
steel; she saw the sputtering yellow
light of a match, and by its pickering
she discerned an old woman trying to
light candle "A rushlight in tin
frame. with holes at the sides.
Molly looked quietly round tho room.
A knife lay on tho table. She took 1t
up. 1t was one Of the rough clasp
knives used by rustics when they cat
their dinners under the hedge. She
stepped forward and took the light
from the old woman's hand.
Quick" she said. "Who is In the
| house,"
mo one except myself. He said, the
house was to be KEEP clear tonight"
Can they get in:"
.rhey can kick the house down tif
they like; it's SO old and crazy"
rs there an upper roomi"
The old woman pointed to theAfar
corner Molly now perceived that,the
place was the kitchen, the taprooms the
sitting room and all. y table wasiin
the middle; settle wns. standing be-
side the empty fireplace! there was u
bench or two; mugs and cups Of wood,
pewter and common ware stood on the
| mantclshelf; n side of bacon hung In
the chimney. In the corner to which
the old woman pointed was ladder.
| Molly ran across the room. At the top
of the ladder there was square OPEN
Ing large enough for her passage. She
| H., l..
rushlight in an upper chamber the floor
of which wns covered with flock beds
laid on the boards. There was ono
small frame of glass in the roof, n win
dow which was not made to open. The
place reekcd with foul air worse than
the orlop deck or the hold utter voy-
age.
Down below she heard her captor
kicking at the door. Apparently the
old woman drew back the bolt, for he
came in noisily and swearing horribly.
Apparently the old woman pointed to
tine ladder, or perhaps the glimmer
from the room above guided him. He
came to the ladder and tried persua-
sion.
"Molly, my DEAR" he cried, come
down, come down! 1 won't harm you.
Upon my honor will not want only
to put you into the chaise and carry
you off to be married. Molly, you are
the lovcliest girl in the county. Molly,
l say, there is nobody can hold can
die to you. Molly, will make you as
happy rs the day is long. Molly, love
you ten times as well rs that proud
lord. lie will not marry you. There
Isn't man in all the company l will
not fight for your sake. Don't think I
will let any other man have you Con-
found it, Molly. why don't you an
swerT
For now she kept silence. The more
he parleyed the more time she gained.
But she found one or two loose boards
that had been used for laying in tres
ties for the support Of the flock beds.
She laid them across the trapdoor.
There was, however, nothing to keep
them down.
Then Tom Rising began to swear ut
the old woman.
"You fool! You laundering, silly, jen-
ny ass Of fool! What the devil did
you give her the candle fOrF
IT didn't give 1t. She took It,"
"Go get another candle, then"
There are no moro candles, MASTER"
said tho old woman In her feeble voice.
shes got the only one"
"Molly. If you won't come down, I
shall force my way up"
Still she kept silence.
He took two steps up the ladder and
lifted the boards, showing the fingers
of his left hand. Molly applied her
knife gently, but dexterously; but 1t
touched the bono and taught him what
to expect. He drew back with cry of
rage.
"Come down." he said, cor 1t will
be worse for you. Come down, say.1s
He had not reckoned on knife and
on the girls courage in using it.
you have no food up there" he
went on. your window is only light
in the roof looking away from the road
No one from Lynn will come this way.
If they do, they will see nothing. You
had better come down. Molly, shall
wait here for month. / shall starve
you out. Do you hcar2 will set fire
to the thatch and burn you out! You
shall come DOWN.
So he raved and ragged. Meantime
the two chairmcn, who were his own
servants, stood polo in hand, one in
front of the house and one behind, to
prevent an escape, but this was i'm
possible, because tho room, as you have
heard, had no other window than n
small, square opening in the roof, in
which was fitted piece of coarse,
common glass.
SACK" she told me, when he talk
ed of setting fire. to the thatch, con-
TESS l trembled, because you see. my
knife would not help mo there, and,
indeed, think he would have done It.;
because he was like one that has gone
mad with rage. Flo was like mad
bull He stormed; he}raged; he cursed
and swore; he calledsme all tho names
you ever heard of, such names as the
sailors call their sweethearts when
they are in n rage with them. and then
he called me all the cndearlng, names,
such as loveliest of my sex, fairest
nymph, tenderest beauty. What q
man! What n MANI
Meantime she made no answer what
ever. and tho darkness and tho, silence
and the obstinacy of;the girl were driv-
ing tho unfortunate lover to n kind Of
madness, and 1 know not what would
have happened.
MOLLY" he said, willy .nilly, down
you come. I shall tear down the
J thatch. would burn youiout but l
J would not spoil your beauty I shall
tear down the thatch, and imy men
J shall carry.you down."
Then Molly made answer.
II have knife in my possession. Do
| not think that an afraid to use it.
The first mnn who lnYs hands ON ma