The San Francisco call., 1903-01-11

have given ten thousand crowns TO re-
ceive such a note. and would doubtless
have shown il 10 half the court in tri-
umphant confidence before the middle Of
the night. To this great captain of the
was glad TO have il. nevertheless. and,
with all his self-restTaint and stoicism
could not conceal his pleasure.
Brandon at once accepted the invitation
holiness Of this actually took my breath,
and It seems at first TO have artled Mary
2 little. also. AS you must know by this
time. her dignity royal was subject TO
alarms and quite her most troublesome
ettriDUte-Very apt TO receive damage IN
her relations with Brandon.
Mary did not destroy Brandon's note.
despite the fact that her sense Of dignity
lad been disturbed by it, but after
she had read il slipped off into her private
room. read IL again and put II in her escri-
and. after q little hesitation, put il IN her
pocket II remained in the pocket for a
moment or two, when out II came for an
other perusal. and then she unfastened
her bodice and put Il in her bosom Mary
had been so intent upon what she was do
ing that she had not seen Jane, who was
sitting quietly in the window. and. when
she turned and saw her, she was so an
cry she snatched the note from her
bosom and threw II upon the floor, stamp
ing her foot in embarrassment and rage.
How dare you watch me, hussy?' she
Crieda you luTk around as still as the
grave. and have TO look into every nook
spying on me-"
y did not spy upon you, Lady Mary"
said Jane quietly.
Don't answer me: I know you did. 1
want you to be less silent after this Do
you hear? Cough, or sing or stumble;
do something, anything that ] may hear
you"
Jane rose, picked up the note and Of
fered IL 10 her mistress. who snatched 1T
with one hand, while she gave her a
sharp slap with the other Jane ran out,
q n Mary full Of and shame
slammed the door and locked it. The
note, being the cause OF all the trouble,
she impatently threw TO the floor again,
and went over TO the window bench,
where she threw herself down TO pout
In the course Of i've minutes she turned
looked at the note. and then, after a little
hesitation. stole over 70 where she had
thrown II and picked It up. Going. back
her hand a moment and then read il once,
twice, thrice. The third time brought the
smile. and the note nestled in the bosom
Jane did not come of so well, for her
mistress did not speak to her until she
called her in that evening TO make her
toilet. BY that time Mary had forgotten
about the note IN her bosom; so when
Jane began 10 array her for the dance it
fell TO the floor, whereupon both girls
ST9ks into bs STgs aRd s6o Sfns Msfv Kissed Kissed
the top OF James head, and they were
friends again.
90 bFaDQOn accepted M6fN s
and went 10 Mary's dance, but his going
made for him an enemy of the most pow
erful nobleman IN the realm. and this was
the way Of ii:
These parties Of Mary's had been going
on once or twice a week during the entire
winter and spring, and usually included
the same persons. II was a sort of CO.
terie. whose members were more or less
congenial. and most OF them very jealous
OF inteTlOpers- Strange as II may seem,
unlimited persons often attempted TO
schemes and maneuvers were adopted to
gain admission. To prevent this, two
guarosmen WIN haioerds were stauoned
a the door. Modesty, / might say, nei-
ther thrives nor is useful at court.
When Brandon presented himself at the
door his entrance was barred. but he
quickly pushed aside the halberds and en-
tered The Duke OF Buckingham, a
proud. self-important individual. was
Now Buckingham was one Of those unfor-
tunate persons who never lose an oppor-
tunity TO make q mistake, and being anX-
ious 10 display his zeal on behalf Of the
Princess stepped up 10 prevent Brandon
entrance.
"slr, you will have to move out of this"
he said pompoqsly- You are not at a
and come 10 the wrong place"
MY Lord Of Buckingham Is pleased to
make rather more Of an ass OF himself
than usual this evening" replied Bran
don with a smile. he started across the
room to Mary whose eye he had caught
She had seen and heard IL all. but in
place OF coming 70 his relief stood there
laughing TO herself At this Buckingham
grew furious and ran around ahead Of
Brandon. valiantly drawing his sword.
Now. by heayeni fellow, make but an
other step and / viii run you through
he said.
I saw 1t all, but could hardly realize
what was going on, Ii came so quickly
and was over go soon. Like a flash Bran
don's sword was out of its sheath and
Buckingham's blade was flying toward
49,
sheathed again so quickly that one could
hardly believe 1t had been out at all, and
picking up Buclingham's he said with a
half-smothered laugh:
MY lord has dropped his sword" He
then broke its point with his heel against
the hard floor. saying: 4 Will dull the
TO its use, wound himself" This brought
peals Of laughter from everybody, includ-
ing the King. Mary laughed also, but, as
Brandon was handing buckingham his
blade, came up and demanded:
MY lord. is this the way you take 1t
upon yourself to receive my guests? Who
appointed you, let me ask. to guard my
from our next list unless you take a few
lessons In good manners" This was
striking him hard. and the quality Of the
man viii at once appear plain TO you when
! say that he had often received worse
treatment, but clung 10 the girls skirts
all the more tenaciously. Turning to
Brandon the Princess said:
Master Brandon. I am right glad to
see you and regret exceedingly that our
friend OF Buckingham should so thirst for
your blood" She then led him to the
King and Queen. to whom he made his
bow. and the pair continued their walk
about the room Mary again alluded TO the
skirmish at the door. and said laughingly:
Il would have come TO your help, but
/ knew you were amply able to take care
Of yourself. ] was sure you would worst
the Duke in some way. 1t was better
than q mummery, and / was glad to see
II / DO not Ike him "
The King did not open these private
balls, he was supposed. at least not to
be their patron. and the Queen. who was
considerably older than Henry, was
averse TO such things. So The Princess
opened her own balls, dancing for a few
minutes with the floor entirely to herself (
and partner. 1t was the honor Of the
evening to open the ball with her. and
quite curious to see how men put them
selves in hen way and stood as to be
easily observed and perchance chosen.
Brandon, after leaving Mary, had drifted
into a corner OF the room back Of a group
Of people. and was talking to Wolsey-
who was always very friendly to him
and TO Master Cavendish, a quaint quiet
easy little man, full Of learning and kind
ness, and warm friend Of the Princess
Mary.
1t was time 70 open the ball, and from
my place in the musicians' gallery,
could see Mary moving about among the
guests. evidently looking for a partner.
while the men resorted TO some very
and