Mary, dear Mary, for of a
truth thou art very dear to me; wilt thou go with me and be my wife?"
The tones of Richard Martin, usually harsh and forbidding, now fell soft
and musical on the ear of Mary. He was her first love, her only one.
What marvel that she consented?
"Let us hasten to depart," said Martin, "this is no place for me. We
will go to the Providence plantations. Passaconaway will assist us in
our journey."
The bright flush of hope and joy faded from the face of the young girl.
She started back from the embrace of her lover.
"What mean you, Richard? What was 't you said about our going to that
sink of wickedness at Providence? Why don't you go back with me to
sister Ward's?"
"Mary Edmands!" said Martin, in a tone of solemn sternness, "it is
fitting that I should tell thee all. I have renounced the evil
doctrines of thy brother-in-law, and his brethren in false prophecy. It
was a hard struggle, Mary; the spirit was indeed willing, but the flesh
was weak, exceeding weak, for I thought of thee, Mary, and of thy
friends. But I had a measure of strength given me, whereby I have been
enabled to do the work which was appointed me."
"Oh, Richard!" said Mary, bursting into tears, "I'm afraid you have
become a Williamsite, one of them, who, Mr. Ward says, have nothing to
hope for in this world or in that to come.
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