Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-01-17
Molly Burnes' Method
[Original.1


long visits to one anothers houses
hunted, Toasted, Can ed, gambIed ana
drank rum toge her. Old Colonel Rod
erick Burnes, who had come over to
escape Cromwelrs rule, had a 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
a middle aged bachelor, Albert Mar
shall, who was considered the best
sWOrdSman on the peninsula.
Harry Swift was madly in love with
vOred her sutton, but it was not to be
supposed that one who sat horse bet
ter and followed the hounds more reck-
lessly that any girl in Virginia would
surrender without being chased. She
told Swift that she would only marry
a man who had proved his bravery
under the code duellO. The young fell
low had seen Marshall cast longing
eyes on her, and Marshall had defend
ed his honor Oftener it was considered,
than was necessary. 1t was plain to
Harry that Molly meant that she pre-
ferred the L.u3list planter to himself.
One day hunting party stopped at
the Kings Arms tavern at Marshall's
invitation, and while drinking Marshall
proposed the health of Charlie over
the water" referring to the future
Charles II. Harry Swift, who was
present, affecting a sympathy with a
cause he had no interest in, protested
against the toast, using abusive Ian
guage This put a damper on the par
ty, for they all knew the insult would
lead to duel and that Marshall could,
under the code, kill any man there
about.
How Molly Burnes got wind of the
result of her coquettish words to Swift
does not appear, but when the insult
was given one of her favOrite 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 by her own connivance, was
she was surprised at 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
cretly, a party to the trouble AS
luck would have it, gentleman from
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
Swifts insult an anonymous note was
received through the post by Mr. Mar
shall stating that the Marylander had
been maligning him.
Since Swift had no reputation what
ever as a 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 by Mr. Marshall, spent the even
ing before the meeting with Molly
Burnes. He did not tell her that he
had come to say what would doubtless
be lasting farewell, nor did she tell
him that she knew what was expected
on the morrow. He appeared very I'M
easy till a servant entered and handed
him a note. She watched him while
he read it, 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 il
now to keep an affair of this kind Sc
cret. Indeed, when an insult was pass
ed meeting was in order. The Mar
shall-Swift-Ashley affair was talked
of all over the peninsula In the coffee
houses at Williamsburg men discussed
Mr.. Marshall's obligations in the mat
ter without coming to a 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 SLAM
dered Marshall. He had heard Of Mar
shalIs reputation with the sword and
was not averse to ~ trial of skill with
him. A meeting was arranged for the
third day after the receipt Of the
anonymous note. The hour was sun
rise. The place was a grove not far
from Colonel Burnes' 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 Erst meeting.
should Marshall survive it. The rising
sun was flashing on the swords Of the
disputants when a clatter Of hoofs was
heard, and Molly Burnes dashed on to
the ground.
Gentlemen she said, ''put I'D your
swords. | wrote the letter charging
Mr. Ashley with slandering Mr.. Mar
shall The charge was false"
A thunderbolt from heaven could not