The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-07-09

{ - IOe)A> Y ~ ~ Il Us
letter in the box, but there was some
thing elst' which Mary had sent to him
that had carried with me- It was
sum of money sufficient to pay the debt
against his fathers estate and, in adj
dition, to buy some large tracts of land
adjoining. Brandon did not hesitate
to accept the money and seemed glad
that it had come from Mary, she, doubt
less, being the only person from whom
he would have taken it.
One Of Brandons sisters had mar
(Eied a rich merchant at Ipswich, and
another was soon to marry a Scotch
gentleman. The brother would prob
ably never marry, so Brandon would
eventually have to take charge of the
estates. In fact, he afterward lived
there many years, and, as Jane and
had purchased a little estate near by,
which had been generously added to
by James uncle, we saw a great deal
of him. But am getting ahead of nv
story again.
The DAngOuleme complication trou.
bled me greatly, Notwithstanding my
faith in Mary, and although l had re.
solved to say nothing to Brandon about
1t, 1 soon told him plainly what
thought and feared.
He replied with low, contented lit
tie laugh.
"Do not fear for Mary. I do not
I know, from the old king, but l have
all faith in her purity and ability to
take care of herself. Before she left
she promised to be true to me, what.
ever befell, and l trust her entirely
l am not so unhappy by any means as
one would expect. Am I? And was
compelled to admit that he certainly
was not.
So it seems they had met, as Jane
and I suspected, but how Mary manag,
ed it am sure cannot tell. She beat
the very deuce for having her own
way, by hook or by crook Then came
the bulky letter, which Brandon pounc-
ed upon and eagerly devoured. leave
out most of the sentimental passages
which, like effervescent wine, lose fla.
vor quickly. She said, in part:
To Master Brandon:
Sir and Dear Friend, Greeting-After
| leaving thee, long time had I that mighty
| grief and dole within my heart that it
| was like to break for my separation from
| thee was so much harder to bear even
| than had taken thought of, and also
doubted me that I could live in Paris as
I did wish. Sleep rested not upon my
| weary eyes, and of very deed could I
! neither eat nor drink, since food dstasted
me like nausea and wine did strangle
in my throat. This lasted through my
| journey hither, which did prolong upon
| many pretexts nearly two months, but
| when did at last rest mine eyes for the
| first time upon this King Louis face I
| well knew that I could rule him. and
when I did arrive and had adjusted my
self in this Paris I found it SO easy that
| my heart leaped for very joy. Beauty
goeth so far with this infiammable people
| that easily do I rule them all, and truly
doth servile subject make q sharp, capri
| cious tyrant. Thereby the misfortune which
| hath come upon US is of so much less evil
and is so like to be of such short duration
that I am almost happy, but for lack Of
| thee, and sometimes think that after all
| 1t may verify be blessing unseen.
| This new, unexpected face upon our
| trouble hath so driven the old gnawing
| ache out of my heart that I love to be
alone and dream, open eyed, of the time,
| of a surety not far off, when shall be
|
for me, who have never waited, to have to
wait, like a patient Griseda, which of
| truth am not, for this which I do so
| want, but I try to make myself content
with the thought that full sure it will not
| be for long, and that when this tedious
time hath spent itself we shall look back
| upon it as a very soul school, and shall
| rather joy that we did not purchase our
| heaven too Cheaply.
| I said I find it easy to live here as I
| wish, and did begin to tell thee how it was
when I ran off into telling of how long
for thee, so I will try again. This Louis,
| to begin with, is but the veriest shadow
of man, of whom thou needst have not
one jealous thought. He is on bed Of
sickness most of the time, of his own ac-
cord, and if, perchance, he be but fairly
| well day or so I do straightway make
him i'll again in one way or another, and,
| please God, hope to wear him out entirely
ere long time. OF Decd Brother Henry
| was right. Better had it been for Louis to
| have married a human devil than me, for
| 1t maketh very one out of me if mine
eyes but rest upon him, and thou know
est full well what kind of devil make.
Brother Henry knoweth, at any rate. For
all this do 1 grieve, but have no remedy
nor want one. I sometimes do almost
compassionate the old king, but cannot
forbear, for he turneth my very blood to
biting gall, and must cen take the conse-
Quences OF his own folly. Truly is he
wild for love of me, this poor old man.
and the more 1 hold him at distance the
more he fondly dotes. I do verify believe
he would try to stand upon his foolish
old head did I but insist. 1 sometimes
have a thought to make him try it. He
doeth enough that is senseless and alb
surd, in all conscience, it is. At all Of
this do the courtiers smile and laugh and
put me forward to other pranks-that is
all but a few of the elders, who shake
their heads, but dare do nothing else for
fear of the dauphin who will soon be
king and who stands first in urging and
abetting me. So it is easy for me to do
what I wish, and above all to leave un-
done that which wish not. for do easily
rule them all, as good Sir Edwin and dear
Jane will testify. l have ball every
night wherein I do make deal of amuse-
ment for every one by dancing La Volta
with his majesty until his heels, and his
poor old head, too, are like to fall off.
Others importune me for those dances,
especially the dauphin, but 1 laugh and
shake my head and say that will dance