The times., 1901-05-12

, fun, round hand without bad spelling
The woman, therefore, is educated. My
| dear, we may perhaps find the woman
| Ny 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 large sum of
money under false pretenses. Their necks
are in danger. even the neck of a noble
| earl.
1T is inconceivable, he went on after
a little reflection. how 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?"
I'VE 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 a large company
| at the assembly this evening You viii
| take Molly there / will go with you.
Jack shall put on his Sunday best and
shall also go with us. We must be pre-
pared for an impudent claim. and we
must be ready with prompt denial. Let
| us court publicity
This was clearly the best advice posi-
bic. We were left unmolested all the aft
ernoon, though the captain made me stay
as Kind of garrison in case any attempt
at abduction being made.
In the evening Molly in her chair and
dressed in her tinery was carried to the
gardens, while the captain. the vicar, and
myself formed bodyguard.
We arrived after the dancing had begun.
| Lady AnastaSia was looking on, but her
court of ladies and young men for some
! reason seemed to have melted away. She
| stood almost alone, save for the support
| of the old beau Sir Harry. The colonel
was also with her. and the Rev. Benjamin
/ Purden stood behind her.
The music was in the gallery at the end
| of the long room The dancing was car
| ried on in the middle. Lady Anastasia
was standing on the right of the gallery,
most of the company on the left Molly
Exr ha
/ 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 ali the world
| or was his lOrdship, before the whole COM
! pany. about to lead his bride to the first
! place, as became her newly acquired rank?
| Some of the ladies regarded her with looks
| of hatred, the successors of the looks OF
scorn with which they had first welcomed
/ her. Most of them, however were kindly.
tale of love always meets with a friend
| ly reception. Not d 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 great prize, indeed, if they only
knew
| The minutes We're over, and the country
dance was about to begin, when Lord Fy-
| iingdale arrived. followed as usual by his
secretary. he stood at the door: he look
| ed around Then. with the cold pride which
| never failed him, he stepped across the
room and bowed low to Molly: Madam"
| he said, with your permission, we will
| dance this country dance together before
| | take you away with me-"
My lord, replied Molly aloud. so that
| the whole company heard and trembIed
Il shall not dance with you this evening
nor on any other evening"
| She will never again dance with you,
| my lord. Nor will she hold any discourse
with you. Nor Will she willingly admit
I rrlc rla
| who spoke, because the man and the oc-
casion proved too much for the good old
| captain, who could only roll thunderously
| between his teeth things more fitted for
| the queiling of mutiny than for dealing
with such man as his lordship.
Pray, sir" said Lord Fyiingdale. step
| ping back, what is the meaning of this?
| Pray, madam'-he turned to Molly
| what is the meaning of this sudden
| change? Captain Crowle. have I or have
| l not the right to claim my wife?"
| The vicar stepped forward and con-
| fronted him. His tall, thin figure. his long
| cassock, his thin and ascetic face. con-
| trasted with the overhaughtiness of his
My lord" he asked, how long has this
| lady been your wife,"
at we were ccfock maGPsd' a6is mornng hi saiS b1
| the Rev. Mr.. Benjamin Pur-
| den. who is here to bear witness to
| the fact The wedding was private at my
! request, because, as you may perhaps be-
/ lieve. | was not anxious TO join in the
wedding feast with company of Doors,
| pumpkins, and sailors.
| Ladies and gentlemen" the vicar rails
| ed his voice and by a gesture silenced the
| orchestra-'I have to lay before you a
| conspiracy which | believe is unparallel-
| ed in any history. You are aware that
| Lord Fylingdaie, who stands before you,
| came 10 the spa a few weeks ago for pur-
| poses best known to himself. You viii
| also doubtless remember that certain per-
sons who arrived before him were loud in
| mr. He them fD ~
| d model of all the virtues. | will not re-
peat the things that were said
"AfI this" said Lord Fylingdale. lis be-
| side the mark. | come to claim my wife.
| Among those who accepted these state
| ments for gospel was Captain Crowle, the
guardian of the young lady beside me 1t
was TO him a great honor to be admitted
| to converse with so distinguished a noble
man and to be permitted to consult with
/ him as to the affairs of his ward. He
| even informed his lordship of the extent
| of the Iady's fortune, which is far greater
| than was generally understood, There
| upon his lOrdship began to pay attention
| of marked character. You have all,
| believe remay 'Sed these attentions. Then
came the attempted abduction and the Ia
| dy's rescue by Lord Fylingdale- After
| this he formally offered his hand and his
| rank to the lady. The honor seemed very
great He was accepted. He then engag-
| ed the lady to undertake private mar
riage without festivities, to which she
| consented. She promised. in fact. to be
married at St. Nicholas Church this very
morning at o'clock"
| "AlI this" said Lord FylingdaIe. coldly
| lis quite true yet why you detain the
company to the narrative l do not under
stand. The lady kept her promise. | met
| her at the place and time appointed We
were married. Once more, Captain Crow
| lie, | claim my wife.
Ladies and gentlemen the vicar con-
tinued. there is but one reply TO the last
statement, for the lady did not keep her
engagement
"Sir''-his lordship advanced a step
ARE you aware Of the meaning of the
words? Do you assert that / was not
married at that time and in that placer?
The Rev Benjamin Purden advanced.
Sir he addressed the vicar like his
lordship, | am amazed az these words
Why, sir, | myself myself at O'Clock
this morning performed the marriage ser
vice as prescribed by the church for the
right honorable the Earl of FyHngdale
and Miss Mary Miller.
ITO be continued.