Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1906-01-20
Molly Burnes' Method
tOriginal ]

lived Oh terms of intimacy. They made
long visits to one anothcr's houses.
hunhcd. Toasted, danced. gdmblcd and
drank rum together. Old Colonel Rod
erick BurncS, who had come over to
escape CromwclI's rule, had Il very
pretty daughter. South of him on the
james lived young Harry Swift. who
inherited his domain when he came of
age, and northward ON the York was
middle aged bachelor, Albert Mar
shall, who was considered the best
sWOrISnan on the peninsula
Harry Swift was madly in love with
Molly BurncS. In her heart Molly IA
vorcI her sutor, but it was not to be
supposed that one who sat horse bet
ter and followed the hounds more rcck-
lcsSly that amy girl in Virginia would
surrender without being chased She
tod Swift that she would only marry
a man who had proved his bravery
under the code ducllo. The young fell
low had seen Marshall cast longing
eyes on her. and Marshall had defend
eel his honor oftcncr. it was considered,
than WAS necessary. 1t was plain to
Harry that Molly meant that She pre-
ferrcd the duclist planter to himself
one day Il hunting party stopped at
the Kings Arms tavern ut Marshall's
invitation. and while drinking Marshall
proposed the health of "Charlic over
the Water,' referring to the future
Charles IL. Harry Swift, who was
present, affecting Il sympathy with a
cause he had no interest in, protested
against the toast, using abusive Ian
guagr. This put Il damper on the par
ty, for they all knew the insult would
lead to a duel and that Marshall could,
under the code. kill any man there
about
How Molly Burncs got wind of the
result of her coqucttish words to Swift
does not appear, but when the insult
was given one of her favorte negro
boys was present at the door of the
tavern holding her fathers horse, and
it is supposed she got it from him. At
any rate. the prospect of her lover be
ing put out of the way by Marshall,
and that 10y her own comnivancc, was
by no means agreeable to her; indeed,
she was surprised ut her concern in the
matter. Unfortunately she was with
out power to break up an affair with
which She had no direct connection
SO She proceeded to make matters
worse by becoming directly, though Sc
crcty, party to the trouble. AS
In, -
Maryland Mr.. Ashley, was visiting
in the vicinity, who had the reputation
of being the best SWordSman in the
southern colonies. ON the evening of
SWiitS insult an anonymous note was
received through the post by Mr. Mar
Shall stating that the Marylander had
been malignng him.
Since Swift had no reputation what
ever as Il SWordsman, and Ashley was
the best in the south, it was not only
becoming Of him to fight Ashley first,
but such WAS his own desire
Harry Swift, having arranged to be
killed 10y Mr.. Marshall. spent the even
ing before the meeting with Molly
BurncS. He did not tell her that he
had come to say what would doubtless
be Il lasting farewell, nor did she tell
him that she knew what was expected
on tn" morrow. He appeared very I'M
easy till Il servant entered and handed
him Il note. She watched him while
he read il, noting his expression, and
it appeared to relieve her She inferred
from it that the Marshall Swift affair
had been postponed to make way for
the MarShall-AShley affair Harry
made no comment on the note, but at
once took his leave
1t WAS not necessary then as it is
now to keep an affair of this kind Sc
crct. Indeed, when an insult was pass
ed meeting was in order The Mar
Shall-SWift-AShlcy affair was talked
of all over The peninsula. In the coffee
houses at Williamsburg men discussed
Mr.. MarShalI'S obligations in the mat
ter without coming to II conclusion as
to what those obligations were. 1t
took some time to settle matters be-
tween Marshall and Ashley. Marshall
demanded that Ashley should retract
what he had said and acknowledge
that he had lied. Ashley, who wished
to fight did not deny that he had Sian
dcrcd Marshall. He had heard of Mar
ShallS reputation with the sword and
was not aVCrSe to Il trial of skill with
him. y meeting was arranged for the
third day after the receipt of the
anonymous note. The hour was sun
rise. The place was Il grove not far
from Colonel BurncS' plantation.
ON the appointed morning the prin-
cipalS and their seconds were on the
ground, and in waiting was young
Swift, who was to be attended to by
Mr.. Marshall after the first meeting,
should Marshall survive it. The rising
sun was flashing on the swords of the
diSputantS when Il clatter of hoOfS was
heard, and Molly Burnes dashed on to
the ground
Gentlemen" she said, put up your
swords. | wrote the letter charging
Mr., Ashley with slandering Mr.. Mar
shall The charge was false"
y thundcrbolt from heaven could not
have created more surprise.
what did you do it for, Miss Mol
lyt" asked Mr.. Marshall.
81 piqucd Harry Swift unintention-
.ly, and the result was that he chal-
enged You. Knowing you to be the
better .wordSman. | drew upon you
Her tore lc refused to proceed
"A better SwordSman still. Good. A
WOman'S way. n GOOD wov for a yUorn