[269] 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.’
‘The Lord rebuke him!’ said Martin, with a loud voice. ‘Woe to such as speak evil of the witnesses of the truth. I have seen the utter nakedness of the land of carnal professors, and I have obeyed the call to come out from among them and be separate. I belong to that persecuted family ’
