Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-04-03

sponded.
The princess looked at us with half
SMILE half frown. and remarked, Now
you doubtless consider yourselves very
brilliant and witty"
EYES," returned Jane maliciously,
nodding her head in emphatic assent,
as the princess and Brandon rode on
before us.
Il hope she is satisfied now" said
Jane soto voce to me.
$50 you want me to ride with you?"
1 replied.
"Yes," nodded Jane.
"Why?" l asked.
because l want you to-" was the
enlightening response.
"Then why did you not dance with
me the other EVENING""
because ] did not want to-"
"Short, but comprehensive" thought
l, but n sufficient reason for Il maid
en-"
| said nothing, however, and after a
time Jane spoke: 1.-THE dance was one
thing and riding with you is another.
l did not wish to dance with you, but l
do wish TO ride with you. You are the
only gentleman to whom | would have
said what | did about my girth being
loose. AS to the new dance, | do not
care to learn it, because | would not
dance it with any man but you. and
not even with you-yct." This made
me glad, and coming from coy, modest
Jane meant a great deal. 1t meant
that she cared for me and would some
day be mine, but it also meant that she
would take her own time and her own
sweet way in being won. This was
comforting, if not satisfying, and loos-
ened my tongue. "Janc, you know my
heart is full of love for YOU
Twill the universe crumble?" she
cried, with the most provoking little
laugh. Now, that sentence was my
rock ahead whenever | tried to give
Jane some idea Of the state of my af-
fections. 1t was part of the speech
which | had prepared and delivered to
Mary in James hearing, as you already
know. l had said to the princess, The
universe will crumble and the heavens
roll up as a scroll ere my love shall al
ter or pale" 1t was high sounding
sentence, but it was not true, as / was
forced to admit. almost with the same
breath that spoke it. Jane had heard
it and had stored it away in that men,
DRY of hers, so tenacious in holding to
everything it should forget 1t is Won
derful what a fund of useless informa-
ton some persons accumulate and cling
to with persistent determination Wor-
tbv of a bpttnr ponSp I tlouplt lame
never would forget that unfortunate,
| abOminahle sentence spoken so gran
diloqucntly to Mary wonder what
she would have thought had she known
| that | had said substantially the same
thing to a dozen others. never should
have won her in that cHse. She does
not know it yet and never shall if
can prevent.
so Jane halted my effort to pour out
my heart, as she always did.
"There is something that greatly
troubles me-" she said
"What is it," | asked in some con-
Germ.
My mistress" she answered, nod
ding in the direction of the two riding
ahead of us. Il never saw her so
much interested in any one as she is in
your friend. Master Brandon. not that
she is really in love with him as yet
perhaps, but | fear ii is coming. and |
dread TO see it. That incident of the
loose girth is an illustration. Did you
ever know anything so bold ana trans
parent? Any one could see through it.
and the worst of all is she seems not
to care if every one does sec. Now look
at them ahead of us. No girl is so
happy riding beside Il man unless she
is interested in him. She was dull
enough until he joined her. He seemed
in no hurry TO come. 50 she resorted to
the flimSY excuse of the loose girth to
bring him. | am SURPRISED that she
even sought the shadow of an excuse,
but did not order him forward without
any prctcnse of one. Oh. | don't know
what to do, 1t troubles me greatly.
Do you know the state OF his feel
ings?"
NO" | answered, :but | think he is
heart whole, or nearly so. He told me
he was not fool enough to fall in love
with the kings sister, and l really be-
lieve he will keep his heart and head,
even at that dizzy height. He is a cool
fellow If there ever was one"
"IIe certainly is different from other
men," returned Jane. II think he has
never spoken a word of love to her.
He has said some pretty things, which
she has repeated to me; has moralized
to some extent, and has actually told
her of some of her faults. l should
like to see any one else take that lib
erty. She seems to like it from him,
and says he inspires her with higher,
better motives and Il yearning to be
good, but | am sure he has made no
love to her"
perhaps it would be better if he did.
1t might cure her" | replied.
"Oh, no, no! Not now! AT first, per-
haps, but not now. What fear is that
If he remains silent much longer she
t,l-- l.. l.