Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-06-05

that, full of French notions OF moral
ty and immortality, and, besides. there
were objections that cannot be writ
ten, but Of which Henry and Mary nae
been fully informed. She might as wei
marry leper. Do you wonder she was
full Of dread and fear and resisted with
the desperation of death?
So Mary, the person most interested
was about the last to learn that the
treaty had been signed.
Windsor was nearly eight leagues
from London and at that time was oc-
cupied only by the girls and few old
ladies and servants, so that news did
not travel fast in that direction from
the city. It is also probable that. even
IL the report Of the treaty and Bran
don's release had reached Windsor. the
persons hearing it would have hesitat
ed 10 repeat It to Mary. However that
may be, she had no knowledge Of eithsl
until she was informed Of the fact tina,
the king and the French ambassador
would be at Windsor on certain day
to make the formal request for hel
hand and to offer the gifts of King
Louis.
had no doubt Mary was in trouble
and felt sure she had been making af.
fairs lively about her. l knew her SUI.
fering was keen, but was glad Of 1t In
view of her treatment of Brandon,
A day or two after Brandon's liberia
ton had begun to speak to him of the
girls, but he interrupted me with a
frightful oath: "Caskoden, you are my
friend, but II you ever mention their
names again in my hearing you are
my friend no longer. will curse you"
l was frightened, so much stronger
did his nature show than mine, and
took good care to remain silent on that
subject until-but am going too fast
again. will tell you Of that here
after.
Upon the morning appointed the
king. Wolsey, De Longueville and my.
self, with a small retinue. rode over to
Windsor, where we found that Mary,
US, had barricaded herself
In her bedroom and refused to receive
the announcement. The king went up
stairs to coax the fair young besieged
through two inches of oak door and to
induce her If possible to come down.
We below could plainly hear the king
pleading in the voice of Bashan bull,
and 1t afforded us some amusement
behind our hands. Then his majesty
grew angry and threatened to break
down the door, but the fair besieged
maintained most persistent and pro
voking silence throughout it all and
allowed him to carry out his threat
without SO much as a whimper. He
vas thoroughly angry and called to US
o come up to see him compel obedi-
nee from the self willed hussy," task
he magnitude Of which he under
ated.
The door was soon broken down, and
he king walked in first, with De Tongue
lille and Wolsey next, and the rest
4 us following in close procession. But
We marched over broken walls to the
most laughable defeat ever suffered by
army. Our foe, though small,
vas altogether too fertile in expedients
or US. There seemed no way to con-
uer this girl. Her resources were SO
that in the moment of
our expected victory success was
urned into defeat; nay, more, ride
lous disaster.
We found Jane crouching on the floor
, corner half dead with fright from
he noise and tumult, and where do
GU think we found her mistress?
Not at all. She was ~
lg in bed with her face to the wall as
Dol as January morning, her cloth.
lg in little heap in the middle of the
pom.
Without turning her head, she ex-
aimed: Come in, brother. You are
ute welcome. Bring in your friends.
am ready to receive them, though not
court attire, as you see." And she
trust her bare arm straight up from
lie bed to prove her words. You
lould have seen the Frenchman's lit
e black eyes gloat on its beauty.
Mary went on, still looking toward
e wall, II will arise and receive you |
| informally if you will but wait" :
This disconnected the imperturbable
enry, who was about at his wits end.
Cover that arm, you hussyw he
led in flaming rage. {
BE not impatient. brother mine! I
i'll jump out in just moment" ,
little scream from Jane startled ev. |
ybody. and she quickly ran up to the {
ng, saying: Il beg your majesty to
J.. She will do as she says so sure as
III remain. You don't know her. She I
very angry. Please go. will bring 9
r downstairs somehow" t
'Ah. indeed! Jane Bolingbroke," came t
ON the bed. 81 will receive my q
tests myself when they are kind I
ough to come to my room" The COW
lid began to move, and whether or Q
t she was really going to carry out
r threat l cannot say, but Henry, n
lowing her too well to risk it. hurried b
all out Of the room and marched q
wnstairs at the head of his defeated =
horts. He was swearing in way Il
make a priests flesh creep and pro-
sting by everything holy that Mary [
ould be the wife of Louis or die. He L
mt back to Mary's room at intervals
t there was enough persistence in q
1T one girl to stop the wheels of time, n
she but set herself to do it, and the n
lg came away from each visit the
tim of another rout. ~
finally his anger cooled. and he be- =
me amused. From the last visit be
mo down lauphinp