Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-04-24

were ITlcIluS ueoi"'
So Brandon accepted Mary's INVITA-
ton and went to Mary's dance. but ms
going made for him an enemy OF tne
most powerful nobleman In the reaim'
and this was the way OF 1t:
These parties Of Mary's had been 60
ing on once or twice II week during the
entire winter ,and spring. and usually
included the same persons. IT was
sort of coterie. whose members were
more or less congenial and most OF them
very Jealous Of interlopers. Strange
ma it may seem, unlimited persons Of
ten attempted to force themselves in'
and all sorts of schemes and maneu-
yers we're adopted to gain admission
To prevent this two guardsmen WIN
halberds were stationed at the door'
Modesty, might say. neither thrives
nor Is useful at court.
When Brandon presented himself az
the door, his entrance was barred put
he quickly pushed aside the halDerds
and entered. The Duke OF SUCKING
ham, a proud. self important individu.
al. was standing near the door ana
saw it all. Now. Buckingham was
one Of those unfortunate persons VINO
never lose an opportunity to make a
mistake, and, being anxious to display
his zeal on behalf of the princess, STEP
ned up to prevent Brandon's entrance.
"Sir, you will have to move OUT OF
this" he said .pompously. "You are
not at jousting bout. You have maze
a mistake and have come to the wrong
place."
"My lord of Buckingham is pleased
to make rather more OF an ass OF MN.
self than usual this evening" replied
Brandon, with smile. as he started
across the room to Mary, whose eye
he had caught. She had seen ana neard
It all. but instead of coming to his re-
lief stood there laughing to herself.
At this Buckingham grew furious ana
ran around ahead Of Brandon, valiant
" drawing his sword.
"Now, by heaven. fellow, make but an.
other step. and will run you through
he said.
I saw IL oil. but could hardly realize
what was going on, 1t came SO quickly
and was over so soon. Like nash
Brandon's sword was out Of its sheath
and Buckingham's blade was flying to-
ward the ceiling. Brandon's sword
was sheathed again so quickly that one
could hardly believe It had been out
at all, and, picking up Buckingham s.
he said with o half smothered laugh.
"My lord has dropped his sword"
He then broke its point with his heel
against the hard floor. saying. Il Will
aull the point lest my lord. being unac.
customed to its use, wound himself"
This brought peals OF laughter from
everybody. including the king. Mary
laughed also, but. as Brandon was
handing Buckingham his blade. came
up and demanded: :.
| MY lord. is this the way you take II
upon yourself to receive my guests
Who appointed you. let me ask, &c
guard my door? We shall have to omit
YOUR name from our next list unless
/ Won take few lessons In good man
ners." This was striking him hard
and the quality Of the man will at once
appear plain to you when | say thai
he had often received worse treatment
but chung to tho girls skirts all the
more tenaciously. Turning TO Brandon'
the. princess said:
"Mastee Brandon, l am glad to see
you, and regret exceedingly that our
friend of Buckingham should so thirst
NhAv, Ind
the king and queen, to whom he made
his bow, and the pair continued their
walk about the room. Mary again al
luded to the skirmiA at the door and
said laughingly:
II would have come to your help, but
l knew you were. amply able to take
care of yourself. was sure you would
worst the duke in some way. 1t was
better than mummery, and was glad
to see it. do not like him."
The king did not open these private
balls, as he was supposed at least moi
10 be their patron, and the queen, who
was considerably older than Henry
was averse to such things. So the prin
cess opened her own balls, dancing fol
few minutes, with the floor entirely
to herself and partner. 1t was the hon
or of the evening to open the ball VIII
her. and quite curious to see how mel
nut themselves in her way ard stooC
so as to be easily observed ana, per
chance. chosen. Brandon after leaving
Mary had drifted into a corner of the
room back of a group of people ant
was talking to Wolsey-who was al
ways very friendly to him-and to Mas
ter Cavendsh. quaint, quiet, easy lit
tie man, full of learning and Kindness
and warm friend to the Princess
Mary.
IT was time to open the ball, ant
from my place in the musicians gal
lerv | could see Mary moving abou
among the guests. evidently looking TO
a partner while the men resorted Il
some very transparent and amusins
expedients to attract her attention. Tn
princess, however, took none OF tn
bidders, and soon, I noticed, she esp1et
Brandon standing in the corner Wit
his back toward her.
Something told me she was going t
ask him to open the dance, and ! re
GREETED it, because I knew 1t would Sc
every nobleman in the house agains
him. they being very Jealous of tn
s'lowborn favorites," as they called tn
untitled friends Of royalty. Sur
enough, was right. Mary at once be
gan to make her way over to the col
ner. and I heard her say, Master Bran