The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-04-02

to have it, nevertheless, and with ali his
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
royaP was subject to alarms and 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 it on
her escritoire. Soon she picked it I'D.
reread it and, after little hesitation,
| put it in her pocket. It remained in
| the pocket for a moment or two, when
out it came for another perusal, and
then she unfastened her bodice and put
it in her bosom. Mary had been so in
tent upon what she was doing that she
HANA NV oNNAA OoASs WIN "oO
| quietly in the window, and when she
turned and saw her she was so angry
| she snatched the note from her bosom
and threw it upon the floor, stamping
her foot in embarrassment and rage.
"How dare you watch me, hussy %
she cried. ''You lurk around as still as
the grave, and have to look into every
nj
you spying on me-"
II did not spy upon you, Lady Mary"
said Jane quietly.
Don't answer me! I know you did!
want you to be less silent after this.
Do you hear? Cough or sing or STUN
BILE; do something, anything. that I
may hear you"
Jane rose, picked up the note and Of
fered it to her mistress, who snatched
it with one hand while she gave her a
sharp slap with the other. Jane ran
out, and Mary, full of anger and shame,
slammed the door and locked it. The
note, being the cause of all the trouble,
she impatiently threw to the floor
again and went over to the window
bench, where she threw herself down
to pout. In the course Of five minutes
she turned her head for one feeting
instant and looked at the note, and
then, after a little hesitation, stole
over to where she had thrown it and
picked it up. Going back to the light
at the window she held it in her hand
a moment and then read it once, twice,
thrice. The third time brought the
smile, and the note nestled in the
bosom again.
Jane did not come off so well, for her
mistress did not speak to her until she
called her in that evening to make her
toilet. By that time Mary had forgot
ten about the note in her bosom; so
when Jane began to array her for the
dance it fell to the floor, whereupon
both girls broke into laugh, and Jane
kissed Mary's bare shoulder, and Mary
kissed the top Of James head, and they
were friends again.
So Brandon accepted Marys invita-
ton and went to Mary's dance, but his
going made for him an enemy Of the
most powerful nobleman in the realm,
and this was the way of it: -.
These parties of Mary's had been 60
ing on once or twice week during the
entire winter and spring, and usually
included the same persons. 1t was
sort Of coterie, whose members were
more or less congenial and most of them
very jealous of interlopers. Strange
as it may seem, unlimited persons Of
ten attempted to force themselves in,
and all sorts of schemes and maneu-
vers were adopted to gain admission
| To prevent this two guardsmen with
| halberds were stationed at the door,
Modesty, might say, neither thrives
nor is useful at court.
| When Brandon presented himself at
the door, his entrance was barred, but
he quickly pushed aside the halberds
and entered. The Duke of Bucking-
ham, a proud, self important individu-
AL was standing near the door and
saw it all. Now, Buckingham was
one Of those unfortunate persons who
never lose an opportunity to make a
mistake, and, being anxious to display
his zeal on behalf of the princess, STEP
ped 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 made
a mistake and have come to the wrong
place."
"My lord Of Buckingham is pleased
to make rather more Of an ass Of him
self than usual this evening"" replied
Brandon with a smile, as he started
across the room to Mary, whose eye
he had caught. She had seen and heard
it all. but instead Of coming to his re-
lief stood there laughing to herself.
At this Buckingham grew furious and
ran around ahead of Brandon, valiant
| ~ drawing his sword.
"Now, by heaven, fellow, make but an
other step, and will run you throughv'
| he said.
saw it all, but could hardly realize
what was going on, it came so quickly
and was over so soon. Like a flash
Brandon's sword was out of it's sheath