The times., 1901-05-12
CHAPTER Mi
NrEAnINL

I
in q strange condition of eNuitauon. Tor 1
had no doubt-no doubt at ah-lhaI ''e
charges were true and that a conspiracy
of the most deadly kind was not only DIS
covered but also checked and | could not
but admire the craft and subtlety with
which the favorite OF the muses. had de-
,ise5 q plan by which it was made possi-
he for the conspirators TO come all togeth-
So without the least suspicion TO the town
of I.ynu. Nobody could stand against him.
nor could any one in Lord Fylingdale
rank visit the town in its ordinary condl-
ton without receiving an invitation 10
Houchton if Sir Robert was there unless,
indeed. there were reasons why he should
not be visited or received. What sam had
not expected was without doubt the Won
derful success of his deception, the eager
ness with which the country round accept
ed his inventions, the readiness with wh'ch
they drank these innocent waters. the mi
racuIous cures effected and the transtor-
NATION of the venerable old port and trad
ing town into a haunt and resort OF fash
ion and the pursuit Of pleasure
Thinking Of all these things and In
blissfuI authorization Of the discontinue
of all the conspirators. there was an I'M
portant thing that ! quite forgot-nameiy'
10 send Mollys letter TO her suitor in MS
room at the Crown. l carried the letter
in my pocket. 1 undressed and lay down
in my bunk I slept with a light heart,
dreaming only Of things pleasant until the
morning. when the earliest stroke of the
hammer from the yard and the quay woke
me up 1t was then 5:2o. l sat up. rub
bod nv ewes. I then suddenly remem-
bered that the letter was in my pocket
still.
1t was. say. $50, The engagement was
for O'Clock. I might have 70 run yet
to stop Lord Fylingdale.
1t does not take long to dress. You
may imagine that 1 did not spend time
in powdering my hair. In q quarter of
an hour l was over the side of the ship
and in my dingey.
BY the clock of the Common Stath it
was five minutes TO when I landed and
made her fast. I climbed the stairs and
ran as fast as my legs could carry me TO
the Crown Inn. AS I reached the door
the clock struck 6 Was Lord Fyiingdale
in his room? l was too late. He had left
the house only five minutes before and had
been carried in his chair across the mar
ket place.
l followed. It was already five minutes
past the hour. ! should find him in the
church chafing at the delay. l should give
him the letter and retire.
The market place was filled with the
market people and with the townspeople
who came TO buy. I pushed across, step
ping over a basket and jost,ed by a wo-
man with poultry and vegetables 1t was,
however, seven or eight minutes Then I
arrived at the church. The doors Of the
south porch were open. Within I heard
of Qua
voice. l looked in.
HeavensI What had happened? Not
only was I late with my letter. but-but
could l believe my eyes? Molly herself
stood before the altar Facing her was
Lord Fylingdale. who held her hand.
Within the rails stood the Rev. Benjamin
Purden. beside him the clerk TO make the
responses, and the minister when 1 ar
rived was actually saying the words
which the bridegroom repeats after the
minister. completing in effect the mar
riage ceremony.
!. Ludovic, take thee Mary, to be my
welded wife" and SO on, according to
the form prescribed, and again the words
beginning:
With this ring I thee we'd
I stood and listened, lost in wonder.
Then came the prayer prescribed, after
which the clergyman Joined their hands
together, saying.
Those whom God has Joined together
let no man put asunder."
! heard no more. I sat down on the
nearest bench. What was the meaning Of
this sudden changer Remember that /
had left Molly only a few hours before
this fully resolved that she would de-
mand an enquiry into the statements and
that she would not keep the engagement,
her admiration for the proud, brave,
noble creature, her lover, turned into
loathing.
And now-now. in the early morning,
with her letter in my pocket stating her
change Of purpose, L found her at the al
tar actually married.
Whom God hath joined together let no
man put asunder."
What If the man Purden was all that he
was described? The priestly Office con-
fers rights and powers which are indie
pendent of the man who holds that office
Whatever his private wicAedness, Pur-
0eu was a clergyman, and therefore he
could marry people.
Molly stood before the altar. as had
been arranged She wore a black silk
domino; she had on pink silk cloak with
hood drawn over her head, so that she
was quite covered UP and concealed But
knew her by her stature. which was
taller than the common. and by her dress
which had been agreed upon.
Then the bridegroom offered his hand
ana led the bride into the vestry. They
We're tC sign the marriage register
And here rose and skunk away. ! say
that ] SUNK away il YOU like IL better
crawied away, for ] was sick al heart.
The thing which 7 most dreaded. the mar
Tiaec Of our girl 10 q rake and q game
Ster, had been actually accomplished
Misery and ruin would be her lot And In
my pocket was her letter asking for ex-
planatiOn-and Withdrawing her promise
tor the morrow. Could one believe ones
senses
/ craWled away ashamed for the first
time in my life OF the girl l loved. Wom-
en-. said TO myself. are poor. weak crea-
turfs- They believe everything. Lord
Eyhngdalc must have been with her early
lie had but To deny the whole. she ac-
Ccptrd the denial. Despite her resolution
she walked with him TO the church as the
lamb goes 70 the shambles. oh. Mollyi
u no could have believed il Of your
] left the church and went away
Thought of going 10 the captain; Of tell
Ing my father of telling the vicar. but il
seemed ike treachery, and rcfrafued
Instead, / walked back 70 the 0ua. and
padded TO the ship, where presently the
barges came alongside and the dav's
work began. Fortunate it is for n man
that II moments OF great unhappiness
his work has TO be done and he is desir-
Gus 10 put aside his sorrow and 10 think
upon his duty. But-alas, Poor Molly.
Who could have believed it possible?
Well. you see. ! did not follow this wed
ding - an end. Had / gone into the yes
Try ! should have been witness Of ss,ne-
thing very unexpected.
The clergyman had the registers lying
on tho table open. He took a pen and
hiied IN the forms. lie then offered the
pen TO the bride
My lady" he said Il must ask your
ladyship 10 siga the register-in duplicate
81 Won Dlease.,