The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-06-24

R0afrS6d nounced the girls. I admitted
GsXsS them, and Mary walked to
tho middle of the floor. 1t was Just
growing dark, and the room was quite
dim, save ut tho window where Bran.
don sat reading. Gods, those were ex-
citing momentsi My 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 no.
member he had n 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 n moment
she stepped toward the window and,
with quick coming breath, stopped ut
the threshold OK the little passage.
master Brandon, I have come, not to
make excuses, for nothing can excuse
me, but to tell you how 1t 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 az the
world is broad, 1 think It would have
been far better had you refrained from
30 imprudent n visit, especially 40 any.
thing one 80 exalted as yourself may
have to say con be no affair of such as
lone just free Of the hangman's
noose."
"Oh, don't, I pray youi Let me tell
you, and it may make q difference. 1t
must pain you, 1 know, to think OF me
rs you do, after-after-you know; aft
er what has passed between u.s."
Eyes, that only makes 1t all the hard
er. If you could give your kisses"--and
she blushed red rs biood-"to one for
whom you care SO little that you could
leave him to die like a dog, whom d
word from you would have saved him.
what reason have I to suppose they are
not for every manT
This gave Mary nm opening Of which
she was quick enough to take advan-
tagc, for Brandon was in tho wrong.
"You know that Is not true. You are
MOI 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-, wen the slightest.
Wantonness is not among my thousand
faults. 1t Is lot that which angers
you. You are sure enough of mt I'm that
respect. In truth, I had almost come
to believe you were too sure. that I had
grown cheap In your eyes and you did
not care so much rs I thought and
hoped for what I had to give. for after
that Iar n I, y, x,~k ,oa4v 49, - ~
l know 1t 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 q moment In a.
lcncc, then, looking ut him, almost
ready for tears, continued: "a man hos
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
q gift only that it may recoil upon her.
Little did I say2 Sir, do you know
what thnt-frst-kiss was to met Had
1 possessed all the crowns Of oil the
earth I would have given them to you
as willingly. Now you know the value
1 placed on 1t, however worthless It
was to you. Yet I was n cheerful giver
of that gift, was I not7 And can you
find 1t in your heart to make Of it q
shame to mc-that Of which I was 70
proudi"
She stood there, with head inclined a
little to one side, looking AT him in
quiringly as IL awaiting an answer. lie
did not speak, but looked steadily al
bis book. I felt, however, that he wac
changing, and I was sure her beauty,
never more exquisite than I'm Its pres
cnt humility, would yet atone for eve
SO great n fault as hers. Err, look beau
tiful and receive remissioni Such q
woman as Mary carries her indulgence
in her face.
1 now began to realize for the first
time the wondrous power of this girl,
and ceased to marvel that she had al.
ways been able to turn even the king
the most violent, stubborn man on
earth, to her own wishes. Her manner
made her words eloquent, and already,
with true feminine tactics, she had put
Brandon in the wrong in everything
because he was wrong in part.
Then she quickly went over what she
had said to me. She told Of her great
dread lest the king should learn Of the
visit to Grouche's and its fatal conse-
quences, knowing full well It would
render Henry impervious to her inhu'
ence and precipitate the French mar.
riage. She told him Of how she was
going to the king the day after the ar
rest to ask his release, and Of tho meet
ing with Buckingham, and his promise.
Still Brandon said nothing and stood
az IL politely waiting for her 70 with.
draw.
She remained silent a little time,
waiting for him to speak, when tears,
partly Of yexation, I think, moistened
her eyes.
Tell me ut least" she said, THAT
you know I speak the truth. I have al
ways believed In you, and now I ask
for your faith. I would not lie to you
I'm the faintest shading OF n thought
not for heaven itsclf-not ven for your
love and forgiveness. much as they are
to me, and 1 want to know that you
arc uro of my truthfulness, IL you
doubt all else. You see I speak plainly
OF what your love is to me, for al.
though by remaining away you made
me fear 1 had been too lavish with my
favors-that is every woman's fear-I
knew In my heart you loved me; that
you could not have done and said what
you did otherwise. Now you sec what
faith I have in you, and you a man,
whom a woman's instinct prompts to
doubt. How does 1t compare with your
faith In me, a woman, whom all tho in