The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-05-29

~ II ~
|oaspl nounced the girls. l admitted
kezsJ them. and Mary walked 20
the middle OF the floor. II was just
growing dark. and the room was quite
dim. save ut the window where Bran
don sat reading. Gods. those were ex-
citing moments, Ny heart beat like a
woman's- Brandon saw the girls when
they entered. but never so much as
looked up from his book. You must re
member he had a great grievance. Jane
and l had remained near the door. and
poor Mary was a pitiable princess.
standing there so full OF doubt in the
middle of the room. After a moment
she stepped toward the window and.
with quick coming breath, stopped at
the threshold OF the little passage.
Master Brandon. have come, not to
make excuses. for nothing can excuse
me. but to tell you how IL all happened
by trusting to another"
Brandon arose and, marking the
place in his book with his finger. fol-
lowed Mary, who had stepped back
ward into the room.
"Your highness is very gracious and
kind thus to honor me. but as our ways
will hereafter lie as far apart as the
world is broad. l think 1t would have
been far better had you refrained from
so imprudent visit, especially as any
thing one so exalted as yourself may
have to say can be no affair of such as
lone just free of the hangman's
noose'
"Oh. don't. pray you, Let me tell
you, and it may make a difference. 1t
| as you do. after-after-you know; aft
er what has passed between u.s."
"Yes. that only makes 1t all the hard
er. II you could give your kisses'-and
she blushed red as blood-'to one for
whom you care so little that you could
leave him to die like a dog. when a
word from you would have 81 ved him,
what reason have to suppose they are
not for every manT
| This gave Mary an opening Of which
she was quick enough to take advan-
tage, for Brandon was I'm the wrong.
| "You know that is not true. You are
| not honest with me nor with yourself.
and that is not like you. You know that
no other man ever had. or could have.
/ any favor from me, even the slightest.
Wantonness is not among my thousand
faults. 1t is not that which angers
you. You are sure enough of me In that
| respect. In truth, l had almost come
to believe you were too sure, that had
grown cheap in your eyes. and you did
not care so much as I thought and
hoped for what / had TO give. for after
that Gay you came not near me at all
know II was the part of wisdom and
prudence that you should remain away
but had you cared as much as i your
prudence would not have held you"
| She hung her head a moment In ST.
lence, then. looking at him. almos,
ready for tears. continued: "a man has
no right to speak In that way of a wo
man whose little favors he has taken
and make her regret that she has given
gift only that 1t may recoil upon her
Little did say? Sir. do you know
what that-first-kiss was to me? Had
l possessed all the crowns OF all the
earth / would have given them to yor
as willingly. Now you know the value
placed on II, however worthless II
was TO you Yet was a cheerful give
of that gift. was / not? And can yoI
find ii in your heart to make Of 1t q
shame to me-that Of which / was q
proudT
She stood there. with head inclined |
little to one side, looking at him in
quiringly as IL awaiting an answer. H.
did not speak, but looked steadily a
his book. / felt, however. that he wa
changing, and l was sure her beauty
never more exquisite than in it's pres
ent humility. would yet atone for evei
, so great fault as hers. Err, look beau
tiful and receive remissioni Such
woman as Mary carries her indulgenc
in her face.
l now began to realize for the frs
time the wondrous power of this gir
and ceased TO marvel that she had a
ways been able to turn even the kinl
the most violent. stubborn man o
3 earth, to her own wishes. Her manne
, made her words eloquent, and already
: with true feminine tactics. she had pu
. Brandon In the wrong in everythin
because he was wrong in part.
> Then she quickly went over what sh
. had said to me. She told of her grea
! dread lest the king should learn of tn
r visit to Grouche's and its fatal cons'
: quences, knowing full well it woul
I render Henry impervious to her Unfit
8 ence and precipitate the French maj
, riage. She told him of how she wa
going to the king the day after the a
rest to ask his release. and of the NEE
ing with buckingham. and his promis'
Still Brandon said nothing and stoo
as If politely waiting for her to will
draw.
j. She remained silent a little tim
L waiting for him to speak, when tear
}, partly OF yexation, ! think. moistene
her eyes.
"TeIl me at least" she said. ''tha
!. you know | speak the truth. / have a
II ways believed I'm you, and now / as
70 for your faith. l would not lie to yo
I'm the faintest shading OF a thought