Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-05-18
When KniShthOOd
Was in Flower.
BY
EDWIN CASKODEN
Chas. Major

In short time we came 20 n summer
house near the marble boat landing.
where we found the queen and some
Of her ladies awaiting the rest OF their
party for n trip down the river which
had been planned the day before. Bran
don was known 10 the queen and sever
nj Of the ladies, although he had not
been formally presented at an audi
ence. Many OF the kings friends en-
joyed n considerable intimacy with the
whole court without ever receiving the
public stamp Of recognition socially
which goes with n formal presentation.
The queen, seeing us. sent me of to
bring the king After had gone she
asked II any one had seen the Princess
Mary, and Brandon told her Lady Jane
had said she was at the other side OF
the grounds. Thereupon her majesty
asked Brandon TO find the princess and
90 say that she was wanted.
Brandon started Off and soon found
n bevy of girls sitting on some benches
under a spreading oak, weaving spring
flowers. He had never seen the prin-
cess, so could not positively know her.
AS matter OF fact he did know her as
soon as his eyes rested on her, for she
could not be mistaken among a thou
sand. There was no one like her or any
thing near Il. Some stubborn spirit OF
opposition, however. prompted him to
pretend ignorance. All that he had
heard Of her wonderful power over
men and the servile manner in which
they fell before her had aroused in
him a spirit of antagonism and had be-
gotten n kind of distaste beforehand.
lie was wrong in this, because Mary
was not a coquette in any. sense of the
word and did absolutely nothing to at
tract men except 10 be so beautiful,
sweet and winning that they could not
let her alone, for all of which surely
the prince Of fault finders himself could
in no way blame her.
She could not help that God had seen
1T to make her the fairest being on
earth, and the responsibility would
have TO lie where it belonged-with
God. Mary would have none of it.
Her attractiveness was not q matter
of volition or intention on her part.
She was too young for deliberate snare
setting. though it often begins very
early in life, and made no effort to at
tract men. Mans love was too cheap
a thing for her to strive for. and am
sure in her heart she would infinitely
have preferred to live without it-that
is until the right one should come.
The right one is always on his way
every wOman-sOmetimes, alas, too
late-and when he comes, be il late
or early. she crowns him, even though
ne be a long cared ass. Blessed crown,
and thrice@Olessed blindness-else there
were fewer coronations.
So Brandon stirred this antagonism
and determined not TO see her manifold
projections, which he felt sure were
exaggerated. but to treat her as he
would the queen, who was black and
ieathery enough TO brighten a satyr
with all respect due TO her rank, but
with his own opinion of her neverthe
less safely stored away in the back OF
his head.
Coming up to the group, Brandon
took or his hat and, with a graceful
little bow that let the curls fall around
his face, asked. Have l the honor t
find the Princess Mary among these
ladiesT"
Mary, who I know you will at ono,
say was thoroughly spoiled, withou
turning her face toward him replied:
us the Princess Mary a person OF 81
little consequence about the court thai
she is not known to a mighty captain
OF the guardT
He wore his guardsman's doublet
and she knew his rank by his uniform
She had not noticed his face.
Quick as a flash came the answer
81 cannot say of what consequence tn,
Princess Mary is about the court. L
is not my place to determine such mat
tiers. am sure, however, she is no
here. for | doubt not she would hav,
given a gentler answer to a messag
from the queen. | shall continue IN.
search" With this he turned to leave
and the ladies, including Jane, VIII,
was there and saw 1t all and told m
OF il, awaited the bolt they knew woulC
come. for they saw the lightning gath
ering in Mary's eyes.
Mary sprang TO her feet with an an
gry flush in her face. exclaiming: "In
solent fellow. | am the Princess Mary
IL you have a message. deliver IL an
be gone" You may be sure this sor
of treatment was such as the cool head
ed. daring Brandon would repay wit
usury; so. turning upon his heel an
almost presenting his back to Mary, b
spoke to Lady Jane:
"Will your ladyship say to her higf
ness that her majesty the queen await
her coming at the marble landingT
mo need TO repeat the messag'
Jane" cried Mary. 81 have ears an
ian hear for myself" Then, turning I
Brandon. IF your insolence will perm
Fou to receive a message from so insil
hificant a person as the kings sister,
reg Won IN saw N tho ouaau that I cha