The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-04-15

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heart upon the sleeve. Then he had
that strong vein Of prudence and eau
ton which, in view Of Mary's unattain-
ableness, would probably come to his
help. But never was mans heart strong
enough to resist Mary Tudor's smile
foA long.
There was this difference between
Brandon and most others-he would be
slow to love, but when love should once
fairly take root in his intense nature he
would not do to trife with.
The night after the meeting Mary
cuddled up to Jane, who slept with her,
and whispered, half bashfully:
"Tell me all about Brandon. I am
interested in him. I believe If I knew
more persons like him 1 should be q
better girl, Notwithstanding he is one
of the boldest men 1 yer knew. He
says anything he wishes and, with all
his modest manner, is as cool with me
as If I were a burgher's daughter. His
modesty is all On the outside, but 1t is
pretty, and pretty things must be on
the outside to be useful. I wonder IL
Judson thought him modest.
Jane talked of Brandon to Mary, who
was in an excellent humor, until the
girls fell asleep.
When Jane told me of this, I became
frightened, for the surest way to any
woman's heart is to convince her that
you make her better and arouse in her
breast purer impulses and higher aspi-
| rations. 1t would be bad enough should
Brandon fall In love with the princess,
which was almost sure to happen,
but for them to fall in love with each
other meant Brandon's head upon the
block and Mary's heart bruised, broken
and empty for life. Her strong nature,
filed to the brim with latent passion,
was the stuff of which love makes q
conflagration that burns to destruc-
ton, and should she learn to love Bran
don she would move heaven and earth
to possess him.
She whose every desire from child
hood up had been gratified, whose
every whim seemed to her q para
mount necessity, would stop at moth
ing when the dearest wish a woman's
heart can coin vas to be gained or lost.
Brandon's element Of prudence might
help him and might forestall any eff
fort on his part to win her, but Mary
had never heard of prudence, and
mans caution ayails but little when
set against woman's daring. In case
they both should love they were sure
to try for each other and In trying were
equally sure to find ruin and desola-
ton.
A few evenings after this I met the
princess In the queens drawing room.
She beckoned me to her and, resting
her elbows on the top of a cabinet, her
chin in her hands, said: IT met your
friend, Captain Brandon, a day or two
ago. Did he tell your"
mo" I answered. Jane told noe,
but he has not mentioned IT."
1t was true Brandon had not said q
word Of the matter, and I had not
spoken OF 1t either. I wanted to dee
how long he would remain silent con-
corning an adventure that would have
set most men of the court boastingSat
q great rate. TO have a tilt withsfhA
ever victorious Mary and to come on
victor was enough, I think, to ldos4n.
any tongue less given to Dragging than
Brandon'g.
80" continued Mary, evidently
somewhat piqued, 'he did not think hts
presentation to me n thing worth Mon
tioning? We had a little passage. at
arms, and, to tell you the truth, I 'c6xne
Off second best and had to acknowledge
1t too. Now, what do you think Of this
new friend OF yours7 And he dtd not
boast about having the better of me.
After all, there rs more virtue fin his b.
lence than | at FIRST thought" And she
thew back her head and clapped her
ilands and laughed with the most s4n.