Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-12-22
CHAPTER l.


warning, than these.
SO Sir Jasper Brandon thought on
his Christmas Eve, when the mystery,
The beauty, and tenderness of Christ
mas seemed to stir the quiet atmos-
phere of Queens Chace.
He sat alone in his library. Outside,
me sky was clear and blue, the air
biting: the hoar-frost lay white on the
ground-the trees, the hedges, and
the evergreens were bright with it.
Through the silent, frosty air came
the Joyous music of Christmas bells.
He listened, and his face grew sad
der as the Emusic came sweeter and
clearer Other music as sweet and
hopeful came TO him. the sounds Of
laughter and song; the Queens Chace
was filled with visitors, and they were
aeeping Christmas right royalty He
wished the bells would cease ringing;
there was some mute reproach to him
IN the sound.
He wished that Christmas was over;
il brough: him sad and sorrowful
memories The one folly Of his youth
nad grown into lash which scourged
him, which brought deep lines of pain
and sorrow into his face, which dark
ened the bright world and caused even
Christmas to be full of sad memories.
AS he sat thinking 1t all over, it
seemed TO him that that one folly was
70 him the dearest part OF his life.
Even now, when years had closed over
it, when time should have almost OBJ
liberated il-even now it was the
brightest recollection he had; it stood
out a golden memory from the back
ground OF dark life, love so sharp.
30 sudden, so beautiful, SO keen, so
passionate that the dead ashes of it
stirred the life within him. This was
Inc story ofshis folly and his love-
He, Sir Jasper Brandon, was the
only son of his parents. His father,
Sir Francis, married late in life; his
mother, Lady Maud, was young; he
was their only child, and he was wor-
shipped after a fashion that could
have naught but evil results.
No child was ever so sur
rounded with love and care. He grew
up the very idol OF their hearts; and
what seemed wonderful was that the
boy returned this love by one equally
passionate and devoted The Brandons
came of Norman race, courtly, pas
sionate, and silent; race capable OF
glandest deeds, but silent and re-
served, imperious in love, implaca0le
in war, swift, keen, sure, silent-a
race that led hidden lives that the
world never knew.
They were all alike, those Brandons
of Queens Chace, dark, proud,
naughty, passionate men; swift to love,
and loving with terrible intensity;
swift to hate, and hating with bitter
animoSity; men of strong passions, OF
great virtues and great faults; hand
some men, all of them, and dark,
clear-cut, proud faces-faces, too, that
men trusted and women loved.
The young heir, Jasper Brandon,
was in no way inferior to his ances-
tors. In his twentieth year the man
hood within him seemed suddenly TO
awaken to life. He would have no
more indulgence, no more petting and
humoring. They might love him just
as much even more II they could,
but he must assert his rights.
He told his parents that he was go
ing OH tour through Europe, and
nat for the next year or two they
must be content to trust him to HIM
self; yet when the time came for bid
ding them adieu, he almost repented
of his decision. His mother chung to
him. her tender arms clasping his
neck, her tears falling on his face;
his father held his hands.
You will remember, Jasper, he
said, that you hold my life in your
hands. should never survive any
wrong doing OF yours
He smiled to himself, this proud
Young heir, thinking how improbable
It was that he would be guilty of any
wrong-doing."
IF you live until | grieVe you,
father" he answered, you will never
die" And those were his farewell
words
He travelled through Norway and
Sweden, through Germany and Hol-
and, through fair France and sunny
Spain; but he fingered longest in
fair and fruitful Italy, where 1t seemed
TO him that his soul first woke to It's
full and perfect life. Venice had the
greatest charm for him: he loved IL
as lover loves his mistress. All the
poetry and passion of his nature woke
10 life here. The dark old palaces,
The silent canals, the tranquil waters,
the swiftly gliding gondolas, were all
so many poems TO him.
He stood one day musing as ne look
ed at the sculptu.ed walls OF ducal
palace. musing on the grand oid
Veronese tragedy OF Romeo and juliet,
thinking OF the balcony scene, and the
love that must have shone In the girls
face there, whep suddenly, from the
lattice OF window near, girls
face peeped out, and he saw Il only
for one minute, yet In that minute
the whole current Of his life was
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