The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-10-16

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crown her hopes she was happy to her
hearts core, and when once to herself
wept for sheer JOY. 1t Is little wonder
she was happy. She was leaving be-
hind no one whom she loved excepting
Jane and perhaps me. No father nor
mother; only n sister whom she barely
knew and brother whose treatment
of her had turned her heart against
him. She was also fleeing with the one
man In all the world for her and from
marriage that was literally worse
than death.
Our travellers were of course greatly
in need of rest, so Mary went to her
room and Brandon took berth in the
cabin set apart for the gentlemen.
They had both paid for their passage,
although they had enlisted and were
part Of the ships company. They
were not expected to do sailors work.
but would be called upon in case of
fighting to do their part ut that. Mary
was probably as good n fighter In her
own way as enc could find In a long
journey, but how she was to do her
part with sword and buckler Brandon
tiid not know. That, however, was a
bridge to be crossed when they should
come to it.
They had gope aboard about I
O'Clock, and Brandon hoped the ship
would be we'll down Bristol channel
before he should leave his berth. But
the wind that had filled Mary's jack
boots with rain and had howled so dis,
mally all might long would not stir,
now that It was wanted, Noon oame,
yet no wind, and the sun shone as plao-
idly as If Captain Charles Brandon
We're not Tuning with impatence Scn
the poop Of the Royal Hind. Three
o'clock aud no wind. The captain said
1t would come with night, but sundown
was almost at hand, and no wind vet.
Brandon knew this meant failure If 1t
held little longer, for he was certain
the king, with Wolsey's help, would
long since have guessed the truth.
Brandon had not seen the princess
since morning, and the delicacy he felt
about going to her cabin made the sit
uation somewhat difficult. After put
ting 1t of from hour to hour In hope
that she would appear of her own ac-
cord, he at last knocked at her door
and, OF course, found the lady in trou-
bic.
The thought Of the princess going on
deck caused a sinking at his heart ev-
cry time 1t came, as he felt that 1t was
almost impossible to conceal her iden-
tity. He had not seen her in her new
male attire, for when she threw Off her
riding habit on meeting him the night
before he had Intentionally busied him
self about the horses and saw her only
after the great cloak covered her as n
gown. He felt that however well her
garments might conceal her form, no
man on earth ever had such beauty in
his face as her transcendent eyes, rose
tinted cheeks and coral lips, with their
cluster of dimples, and his heart sank
at the prospect. She might hold out for
awhile with straight face, but when
the smiles should come-it We're Just
as we'll to hang placard about her
neck, This is woman" The telltale
dimples would be worse than Jane for
outspoken, untimely truthfulness and
trouble provoking candor.
Upon entering Brandon found Mary
wrestling with the problem Of her COM
pliceted male attire, the most beauti.
fui picture Of puzzled distress imagi.
nabie. The port was open and showed
her rosy as the morn when she looked
up at him. The Jack boots were In n
corner, and her little feet seemed to
put up a protest all their own against
going into them that ought to have
softened every peg. She looked up Mt
Brandon with n half hearted smile and
then threw her arms about his neck
and sobbed like the child she was.
"Do you regret coming, Lady Mary?
asked Brandon, who, now that she was
alone with him, felt that he must take
no advantage of the fact to be famil-
lar.
mo, no! Not for one moment am
giad-only too glad. But why do you
call me LadyT You used to call me
Mary"
II don't know; perhaps because you
are alone"
"Ah! that Is good Of you; but you
need not be quite so respectful"
The matter was settled by mute but
satisfactory arbitration, and Brandon
continued: "You must make yourself
ready to go on deck. 1t will be hard,
but It must he DONE"
He helped her with the heavy jack
boots and handed her the rain stained
siouch hat which she put on and stood
a complete man ready for the deck
that Is, as complete as could he evolved
from her ltteg fsmininity.