The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-04-10

and living on a pinnacle above every
body else was so strong from continued
practice that it appealed to her as a
duty TO maintain that elevation. She
had never before been called upon to
exert herself In that direction, and the
situation was new. The servile ones
with whom she usually associated
maintained it for her; so she now felt,
whenever she thought of it. that she
was I'm duty bound to Chamber back, at
least part of the way, to her dignity,
however pleasant IL was personally
down below in the denser atmosphere
of informality.
In her heart the princess preferred,
upon proper occasions, such as this, to
abate her dignity, and often requested
others to dispense with ceremony, as In
fact she had done with us earlier in the
evening. But Brandon's easy manner,
although perfectly respectful and ele-
gantly polite. was very different from
anything she had ever known. She
enjoyed 1t, but every now and then the
sense of her Importance and dignity
for you must remember she was the
first princess of the blood royal-would
supersede even her love of enjoyment,
and the girl went down and the prin-
cess came up. Besides, she half feared
that Brandon was amusing himself at
her expense. and that in fact this was
a new sort of masculine worm. Really
she sometimes doubted IL it were a
worm at all. and did not know what to
expect nor what she ought to do.
She was far more girl than princess,
and would have preferred to remain
merely girl and let events take the
course they Were going. for she liked
| it But there was the other part of
her which was princess, and which
kept saying. Remember who you are .
so she was plainly at loss between
natural and artificial inclinations con-
f, tending unconsciously within her.
Replying to Mary's remark over
James shoulder Brandon said:
'Your highness asked us to lay aside
ceremony for the evening. and If have
| offended / can but make for my excuse
my desire to please you. Be sure
shall offend no more" This was said
so seriously that his meaning could moi
Il
whether he pleased so capricious per
son or not.
Mary made no reply, and 1t looked al
IL Brandon had the worst Of 1t.
We sat a few minutes talking. Mar,
wearing an air Of dignity. Cards wer'
proposed, and as the game progressed
she gradually unbent again and be
came affable and familiar as earlier II
the evening. Brandon, however, wa
frozen. He was polite, dignified an'
deferential to the ladies. but the spiri
OF the evening was gone since he ha'
furnished it all with his free, offhan'
manner, full of life and brightness.
After a short time, Mary's warmin
mood failing to thaw our frozen fur
maker, and in her heart infinitely pre-
| ferring pleasure to dignity. she said
"Oh, this is wearisome, Your game
far less entertaining than your ne,
dance. Do something to make %
laugh, Master Brandon"
Il fear you must call In VIII Son
mers," he replied, IF you wish to laugl
I cannot please you in both ways. S
will hold to the one which seems
suit the princess"
II Mary's eyes flashed. and she sal
ironically:
"That sounds very much as thoug
/ | you cared to please me in any way.
Her lips parted, and she evidently ha
D something unkind ready to say, but sf
e held the breath she had taken to spea
r | 1t with and after one or two false star
/ | In as many different lines continued
: "But perhaps l deserve it. l ask yo
r to forgive me, and hereafter desire yo
e three, upon all proper occasions, whe
we are by ourselves, to treat me as OF
q Of you-as a woman, girl, l mea
S Where Is the virtue of royalty If it on
d means being put upon a pinnacle abo'
g all the real pleasures Of life. like foe
e ish old Stylites on his column? tt
: queen is always preaching to me abo
b the strict maintenance of my 'digni
v royal as she calls 1t, and perhaps 81
9 Il right. But out upon dignity roya
say I! 1t is a terrible nuisance. o
n you don't know how difficult IT is to
< Q princess and not fool. There!' Al
:. she sighed in apparent relief.
e Then, turning to Brandon: You ha
IS taught me another good lesson, s
D and from this hour you are my frien
7, IL you will be, so long as you a
worthy-no, I do not mean that;
a know you will always be worthy-b
II forever. Now we are at rights aSai
K Let US try to remain so-that is,
.r WILL" and she laughinsly gave him b
I'd hand, which he, rising to his fe
II bowed low over and kissed, rather 4
re vently and lingeringly. thought.
N Hand kissing was new TO us in Ell
: land, excepting in case Of the king a
rs queen at public homage. 1t was a
le tie startling to Mary, though she p
mitted him TO hold her hand mu
Id longer than there was any sort Of ne
~ "a fact she recognized, as l CO,
g: easily see from her telltale chez
1t which We're rosy with the thought
70. 1t.
he So IL Is when a woman goes on
tn defensive prematurely and withc
n. cause. 1t makes il harder to apply
er check when the real need comes.
is, After little card playing l EXPIRE
rt ed regret to Jane that ! could not ha
dance with her for lack Of music.
nd 81 viii play, if the ladies permi
said Brandon. and he took Lady Jan
IF lutte and played and sang some W
pretty little love songs and some col
on ones, too, in a style not often heard
~. England, so far away from the no
g: of the troubadour and lutte. He v
dy full of surprises, this splendid fellt
at with his accomplishments and grace
Va When we had danced as long as
he wished-that is, as Jane wished; as
MS myself, would have been dancing
lal Mary again asked us to be seat
,ar | lana ho racfad pra nHon nffQrQfl