Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-09-24
Copyright, 1901, by Sir Walter Besant
CHAPTER XVI.
A DAY OF FATE.

10 uedu duu uIu ilS
worst and met with
SAaI% the first installment
8sHSS4 of exposure. have
- ls-F:I told you what was
- s.Ss- done at the church
and what was our own bewilder-
ment. not knowing what to believe or
how to explain things. For my own
part. though l might have guessed be-
cause I had discovered the jealousy Of
Lady Anastasia. yet the truth, even the
possibility Of the truth. never came into
my head had no manner Of doubt in
my own mind but 1t was Molly herself
and none other whom saw standing
as a bride at the altar rail with Lord
Fyllngdale for bridegroom. The fact,
say, admitted of no dispute. Yet why
should Molly change her mind? And
why should she deny the fact?
sought her Mt the house. | begged
her to come into the garden and to talk
with me privately. Then | asked those
two questions. Her answer to both of
them was most amazing.
Jack" she said. 81 know not what
you mean. have not changed my
mind 1t Is impossible for me to marry
q man Of whom such things can be
said unless he can prove that they are
false. How can you think that | have
changed my mind? AS regards this
talk about an early wedding. what do
I know about It? At & o'clock | was
In the kitchen with my mother and NJ
gra. | have not been out Of the house
at all"
Then persisted. asked her If she
could have gone out and had perhaps
forgotten.
Forgotten" she repeated scornful-
ly. "Do you suppose that q woman
could by any possibility forget her own
wedding? Eut what is it. Jack? What
is in your mind?"
Then | told her. Molly" l said,
'laSt night forgot your letter. There
was so much to think and talk about
with these disclosures that l forgot.
This morning l remembered. Then l
hurried ashore. ran to the Crown. 1t
was just upon 6. was too late. His
lordShip had gone out in q chair.
ran to the church. 1t was just after
6. The doors were open. heard
voices went in. Molly. Do not say
that am dreaming. saw you-you,
l say-you yourself. with your pink
silk cloak. the hood pulled over your
head. domino to hide your face, just
as had been arranged"
You saw me, Jack? You saw me-?
How could you see me?"
Aud your hand was in Lord Fyling-
dale's, and Mr.. Purden was pronounc
ing the words which made you his
wife. Whom God hath joined together
let not man put asunder.'"
She stared at me with blank amaze
ment.
"ln my pink silk cloak? Jack, are
you in your right mind. or is 1t my
self who am gone distraughtT'
Indeed know not which,"
"Did you speak to me? Did you con-
gratulate the bride, Jack?"
mo; was sick and sorry, Molly. l
went out Of the church. had seen
enough. The clerk, however, has been
telling the story Of this private mar
riage all over the town. Everybody
knows 1t. The marriage IS duly enter
cd in the registers. 1t was marriage
by the archbishop's license. The man
Purden may be all that the wears let
ter exposed. but the marriage was in
order"
Molly said nothing for awhile; then
she said gently: "The letter from the
bookseller, your cousin. spoke Of Lord
Fylingdale as ruined. If he were to
marry a woman with money. it would
be his
II believe that there are sometimes
letters-bills of lading or whatever they
are called - which give the wife the
control Of her own property: otherwise
everything becomes her husbands"
why did he wish to marry me?
There was never CLEAN Of love in his
eye nor a note Of love in his voice.
Why. except that he might get my
money!"
That Is. / am convinced. the rea-
son."
"Villainy. villainy, villainy! Jack,
this is conspiracy. Some woman has
been made to play my part. Then he
will claim me as his wife and lay
hands upon all that have"
mo. Molly; he shall not while you
have friends"
Friends 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"
lack. want more. want all Lynn
to believe me. You have known me all
my life. Am capable of such q change
of mind? Am l capable Of so mon
strous falsehood as to steal out to
marry the man and then to declare that
have never left the house? Oh, the
villain. the villain" Her cheek was
aflame: her eyes flashed.
| seized her hand. Molly" I cried.
"they shall all believe you. I will tell
the truth everywhere"
Just then the garden door was thrown
open. and Sam Semple appeared. With
n smiling face and bending knee he
advanced. bowling low.
Permit me to offer congratulations
to the Countess Of Fylingdale."