Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-09-17
Copyright, 1901, by Sir Walter Besant.
CHAPTER XIV.
A WEDDING.

AhH were true and that
conspiracy Of the most
deadly kind was not only discovered.
but also checked. and could not but
admire the craft and subtlety with
which the favorite of the muses. had
devised a plan by which 1t was made
possible for the conspirators to come
all together without the least suspicion
to the town Of Lynn.
Nobody could stand against him. nor
could any one in Lord Fylingdale's rank
visit the town in its ordinary condition
without receiving an invitation to
Houghton If Sir Robert was there un-
less. indeed. there were reasons why he
should not be visited or received. What
Sam had not expected was without
doubt the wonderful success Of his de-
ception, the eagerness with which the
country round accepted his inventions.
the readiness with which they drank
these innocent waters, the miraculous
cures effected and the transformation
Of the venerable old port and trading
lON lulO q hount odo hSoSAs ~ ~~~SS
lon and the pursuit Of pleasure.
Thinking Of all these things and In
blissful anticipation Of the discontinue
Of all the conspirators. there was an
important thing that l quite forgot
namely. to send Molly's letter to her
suitor in his room at the Crown.
carried the letter in my pocket. l un-
dressed and lay down in nay bunk. l
slept with 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 $50. sat up. rub
bed my eyes. then suddenly remem-
bered that the letter was in my pocket
still.
1t was, I say, $50. The engagement
was for 9 o'clock. might have to run
yet to stop Lord Fylingdale.
1t does not take long to dress. You
may imagine that did not spend time
in powdering my hair. In quarter Of
an hour l was over the side of the ship
and in my dingey.
By the clock in the Common Stath 1t
was five minutes to when landed
and made her fast. | climbed the
stairs and ran as fast as my legs could
carry me to the Crown inn. AS
reached the door the clock struck 6.
Was Lord Fylingdale In his room? I
was too late. He had left the house
~ Q,,1 ,sn, h,,p ho6 hnar
carried in his chair across the market
place.
followed. 1t was already five min
ntes past the hour. should find him
In the church chafing at the delay. I
should give him the letter and retire.
The market place was filled with the
market people and with the townspeo-
ple who came to buy. l pushed across.
stepping over basket and jostled by a
woman with poultry and vegetables.
1t was seven or eight minutes aft
er G when ! arrived at the church.
The doors Of the south porch were
open. Within | heard the sound Of
voices or at least Of one voice. look
ed In.
Heavens! What had happened? Not
only was l late with my letter, but
but could 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 minis.
ter. when l arrived. was actually say
Ing the words which the bridegroom
repeats after the minister. completing
in effect the marriage ceremony.
IL. Ludovic, take thee. Mary. to my
welded wife," and so on. according to
the form prescribed, and again the
words beginning:
with this ring thee wed"-
stood and listened. lost in wonder.
Then came the prayer prescribed,
after which the clergyman Joined their
hands together. saying:
'"Those whom God hath Joined to-
gether let no man put aSunder."
heard no more. sat down on the
nearest bench. What was the mean
Ing Of this sudden change? Remember
that had left Molly only few hours
before this fully resolved that she
would demand an inquiry into the
statements and charges made in the
two letters-resolved that she would
not keep the engagement. her admira-
tion for the proud. brave. noble crea-
ture. 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 altar and actually married.
Whom God hath joined together let
not man put aSunder.'
What If the man Purden was all that
he was described? The priestly Office
confers rights and powers which are
independent of the man who holds that
Office. Whatever his private wicked
ness. Purden was clergyman. and
therefore he could marry people.
Nelly stood before the altar. as had
been arranged. She wore black silk
domino: she had on pink silk cloak
with hood drawn over her head. so
that she was quite covered up and con-
cealed. But knew her by her stature.
which was taller than the common.
and by her dress, which had been
agreed upon.