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

not know how TO parry the thrust.
mumbled over some sort of lame
and beat retreat. Ii was
SO unjust and uncalled for that it
made me angry. But she was so gra-
cious in her amends that | was almost
glad it happened. | like woman
who can be as savage as the very
devil when IL pleascs her. She usually
has I'm store an assortment of possibili-
ties for the other extreme"
"She told me of your encounter" l
returned. "but said she had come Off
second best. and seemed to think her
overthrow n huge joke"
"The man who learns TO know what
n woman thinks and feels will have a
great deal of valuable information" lie
replied. and then turned over for sleep,
greatly pleased that one woman
thought as she did.
| was not sure lie would be so highly
flattered If he knew that he had been
invited TO settle wager and to help
Mary TO a little sport.
AS to the former, had an interest
there myself. although | dared not set
tie the question by asking Brandon If
he played cards and danced. and. as to
the matter of Mary's sport. | felt there
was but little il any danger Of her
having TOO much OF IL at his expense,
Brandon being well able to care for
himself in that respect,
The next evening at the appointed
time we wended our way by an unfre-
quented route and presented ourselves
rs secretly as possible at the drawing
room of the princess.
The door was opened by Lady Jane,
and we Wot the two girls almost at the
threshold. had told Brandon of the
bantering conversation about the title
and he had laughed over 1t in the best
Of humor. II quick to retaliate for an
intentional offense, he was not thin
skinned at a piece OF pleasantly. and
| had none of that still. sensitive dignity
so troublesome TO oneself and friends.
Now. Jane and Mary were always
bantering me because | was short and
inclined to be, in fact. round. but
did not care. Ii made them laugh. and
| their laughing was SO contagious IL
| made me laugh. too. and we all en-
| 1oyed 1t. / would give a pound sterling
any time for good laugh. and that,
think, Is why ! have always been
round,
So. upon entering. said:
His grace the Duke OF Suffolk, la
dies"
They each made a sweeping courte
sy. with hand on breast, and gravely
saluted him:
.'Your grace, good even"
| Brandop's bow was as deep ant
graceful. IL that We're possible, al
theirs. and when he moved on into th'
room IL was with a little halt in hi
step and a big blowing out of th'
cheeks In ludicrous imitation OF hi
late lamented predecessor that sent tn
girls into peals of soft laughter and pu
US all at our ease Immediately.
All, what a thing IL is to look bacl
upon-that time of life when one find
his heaven In a ready laugh!
BE seated. ALL" said the princess
This is to be without ceremony an
only we four. No one knows a word o
It. Did you tell any one. Sir EdwinF'
Perish the thought.' l exclaimed.
She turned her face toward Brandon
eBut l know you did not I've hear
how discreet you were about anothe
matter. Well, no one knows IL, thei
and we can have a famous evening
You did not expect this. Master BraI
don. after my reception Of you the otl
er morning? Were you not surprise
when Sir Edwin told your"
II think ! can safely say that l ws
prepared not TO be surprised at an.
thing your highness might graciousl
conclude to do-after my first exper
/ ence." he answered, smiling.
: aIndeeds" returned Mary, with ell
| vated eyebrows and a rising infiectiC
on the last syllable of the word.
8 was now her turn for little surpris
"well. Wen try to find some way
] surprise you one of these days" Al
s the time came when she was full
e surprises for him. Mary continue
o "But let us not talk about the 9th
e day. OF what use are other days, an
d way? Before the evening is over. Ms
ter Brandon. we want you to give
6 another sermon" And she laughed. 81
e ting off three other laughs as hear
t and sincere as IL she had uttered {
d rarest witticism on earth,
The princess had told Jane and ia
had told me of the Sermon in {
r Park" as Mary called II.
"Jane needs IL as much as H." So
the princess,
N II can't believe that" respond
D. Brandon. looking at Jane with s.
II tening glance quite too admiring a
h commendatory TO suit me. for ! was
u jealous little devil.
p. The eyebrows went up again.
Il "Oh. you think she doesn'tT Well,
: truth. Master Brandon. there is c
falling that cannot be laid ut your d.
h. you are 10 Hattcrcr." For ansv
ly Brandon laughed. and that gave us
cue. and away we went in rippli
" chorus. all about nothing. Some r
N sons may call our laughter foolish,
~ there e,e others who consider II
SO height Of all wisdom. ST. Georgei
ne give my Garter for just one other laI
sF Ike that, for lust one other hour
he youths dancing blood and glowing =
warmth. OF sweet. unconscious. haI
q heart beat and paradise creating
ID In everything,
IS After a few minutes OF gay conver
" ton, in which we all Joined. Mary a
lg ed: What shall we do: VIII one
you suggest somethingfr
It, Jane sat there looking So demure !
Of would have thought mischief could
I'd live within a league of her. but tn
very demure girls are nearly alwt
~ dangerous. She said. oh. so innocen
It. Would you like to dances II 81
ch will play" And she reached for