Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-12-15

HA don was commanded to an
[ss audience and presented to the
E&SsSI king and queen. He was now
eligible to aIl palace entertainments
and would probably have many invita-
tions, being a favorite with both their
maiesties. AS to his standing with
Mary, who was really the most impor-
tant figure socially about the court, l
could not exactly say. She was such
mixture of contradictory impulses and
rapid transitions. and was 80 full OF
whIms and caprice. the inevitable out
growth Of her blood. her rank and the
adulation amid which she had always
lived, that | could not predict for
day ahead her attitude toward any one.
She had never shown so great favor
to any man as to Brandon, but just
how much Of her condescension was
mere whim, growing out Of the i'm
pulse Of the moment and subject to
reaction. could not tell. I believed,
however. that Brandon stood upon a
frmer foundation with this changing,
shifting Quicksand Of girl than with
either Of their majesties.
In fact, thought he rested upon her
heart itself. But to guess correctly
what q girl of that sort will do or think
or fl ell would require inspiration.
| OF course most of the entertainments
given by the king and queen included
as guests nearly all the court. but
Mary often had little fetes and dane
ing parties which were smaller, more
select and informal. These parties were
really with the consent and encourage
ment of the king, to avoid the respon-
sibility of not inviting everybody. The
larger affairs were very dull, and
smaller ones might give offense to
those who were left out. The latter,
therefore. were turned over to Mary.
who cared very little who was offend
ed or who was not. and invitations to
them were highly valued.
One afternoon day or two after
Brandon's presentation a message ar
rived from Mary notifying me that she
would have little fete that evening
In one of the smaller halls and direct
ing me to be there as master Of the
dance. Accompanying the message was
q note from no less a person than the
princess herself. inviting Brandon.
This was an honor indeed-an auto
graph invitation from the hand Of Ma.
ry! But the masterful rascal did not
seem to consider it anything unusual.
| and when l handed him the note upon
his return from the hunt he simply
read it carelessly over once, tore 1t i'll
pieces and tossed it away. I believe
| the Duke Of Buckingham would have
given 10000 CROWNS to receive such
note and would doubtless have shown
| 1t to half the court In triumphant con-
tidence before the middle Of the night
TO this great captain Of the guard II
was but scrap of paper. He was g!nt
IL have It, nevertheless, and with all mn
self restraint and stoicism could not
conceal his pleasure.
| Brandon at once accepted the invita-
ton in personal note to the princess.
The boldness Of this actually took my
breath. and it seems at first to have
startled Mary a little also. AS you
must know by this time. her dignity
royal" was subject to alarms nnd quite
her most troublesome attribute-very
apt to receive damage in her relations
with Brandon.
Mary did not destroy Brandon's note.
despite the fact that her sense Of dig.
nifty had been disturbed by it. but after
she had'read it slipped off into her pri-
vate room. read it again and put 1t on
her escritoire. Soon she picked 1t up.
reread it and. after little hesitation.
put it in her pocket. 1t remained In
the pocket for moment or two. when
out 1t came for another perusal. and
then she unfastened her bodice and put
1t in her bosom. Mary had been so in
tent upon what she was doing that she
had not seen Jane. who was sitting
quietly In the window, and when she
turned and saw her she was SO angry