Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-05-22


lantry, which your grace will sool
learn, make no doubt"
. He replied that he would take car,
. Of that.
Brandon did not see where Bucking
ham hid himself, but soon the two In
, nocsnt adventures came down thu
path attired in the short skirts and bon
nets Of orange girls and let themselve,
out at the gate. Buckingham followed
them. and Brandon quickly followed
him. The girls passed through LITTLE
postern in the wall opposite Bridewel
House and walked rapidly up Fleet
ditch. climbed Ludgate hill, passed
Paul's church, turned toward the river
down Bennett hill, to the left Oh
Thames street. then on past the bridge
following Lower Thames street to the
neighborhood of Fish street hill, where
they took an alley leading up toward
East Cheap to Grouche's house.
1t was brave thing for the girl to
do and showed the determined spirit
that dwelt in her soft white breast
Aside from the real dangers, there was
enough to deter any woman, l should
think.
Jane wept all the way over, but Mary
never fiinched.
There were great mudholes where
one sank ankle deep, for no one paved
the street at that time, strangely
enough, preferring to pay the sixpence
fine per square yard for leaving 1t un-
done. At one place, Brandon told me,
load Of hay blocked the streets, COM
polling them to squeeze between the
houses and the hay. He could hardly
believe the girls had passed that way,
as he had not always been able to keep
them in view. but had sometimes to
follow them by watching Buckingham.
He, however, kept as close as posi-
BILE and presently saw them turn down
Grouche's alley and enter his house.
| Upon learning where they had stop
ped, Buckingham hurriedly took him
self OF, and Brandon waited for the
girls to come out. 1t seemed a very
long time that they were In the wretch .
ed place, and darkness had well de-
scended upon London when they
emerged.
Mary soon noticed that a man was
following them, and as she did not
know who he was became greatly
alarmed. The object of her journey
had been accomplished now, so the
spur Of strong motive to keep her
courage up was lacking.
"Jane, some one is following u.s." she
whispered.
YES" answered Jane. with an un-
concern that surprised Mary, for she
knew Jane was a coward from the top
Of her brown head to the tip Of her
little pink heels.
"Oh, II l had only taken your ad
vice, Jane, and had never come to .
this wretched place! And to think.
too, that came here only to learn the
worst. Shall we ever get home alive,
do you Think"
They hurried on, the man behind
them taking less care to remain unseen
than he did when coming. Mary's
fears grew upon her as she heard his
step and saw his form persistently fol-
lowing them, and she clutched Jane
by the arm.
1T is all over with US, / know. !
would give everything | have or ever
expect to have on earth for-for Mas
ter Brandon at this moment" She
thought of him as the one person best
able to defend her.
This was only too welcome an op-
portunity, and Jane said THAT is
Master Brandon following us. If we [
wait a few seconds, he will be here"
And she called to him before Mary '
could interpose.
Now this disclosure operated in two
ways. Brandons presence was, 1t is 1
true, just what Mary had so ardently
wished, but the danger and therefor 4
The need was gone when she found that l
the man who was following them had {
no evil intent. Two thoughts quickly l
dashed through the girls mind. She t
was angry with Brandon for having q
heated her out of SO many favors and
'or having sighted her love, as she !
1ad succeeded in convincing herself e
vas the case, all Of which GrOuche had
by telling her he was false. I
Then she had been discovered in doing Q
lndone and what she was anxious to t
conceal from every one. and. worst Of r
III, had been discovered by the very II
'erson from whom she was most anX- U
ous to hide 1t. c
So she turned upon Jane angrily:
Jane Bolingbroke, you shall leave me c
IS soon as we get back to Greenwich b
or this betrayal of my confidence" +
She was not afraid now that the dan 81
er was over, and feared no new dan
er with Brandon at hand to protect b
er, for In her heart she felt that to h
vercome a few fiery dragons and
ompany or SO of giants would be q a
here pastime to him. Yet see how t.
be treated him. The girls had stopped Ii
Then Jane called Brandon, and he was ii
t once by their side with uncovered Al
cad, hoping for and of course expect al
lg a warm welcome. But even Bran d.
on, with his fund of worldly philos- Il
ply, had not learned not to put his fl
rust in princesses, and his surprise "
as benumbing when Mary turned d
ngrily upon him. b,
master Brandon, your impudenes In la
allowing us shall cost you dearly. We al
D not desire your company, and will B
lank you to leave rs to our own AZ br
lirs. a. we wish you to attend ex- a
usively to yours" "