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

was on the lookout for some one all
the time, although she made the most
pathetic little efforts to conceal her
watchfulness.
AT last a meeting came about in this
way: Next to the kings bedchamber
was luxuriously furnished little
apartment with well selected library.
Here Brandon and / often went after
moons to read, as we were sure to be
undisturbed
Late one day Brandon had gone over
to this quiet retreat and, having select
ed volume. took his place in seclud-
ed little alcove half hidden in arras
draperics. There was a cushioned seat
along the wall and a small diamond
shaped window to furnish light
He had not been there long when in
came Mary. | cannot say whether she
knew Brandon was there or not. but
she was there and he was there, which
is the only thing to the point, and find
ing him, she stepped into the alcove be-
fore he was aware of her presence.
Brandon was on his feet in an in
slant and with low bow was back
ing himself out most deferentially to
leave her in sole possession, if she
wished to rest
Master Brandon, you need not CO.
l will not hurt you. Besides, if this
place is rot large enough for us BOTH
l will go. | would not disturb you"
She spoke with tremulous voice and
a quick. uneasy glance, and started to
move backward out of the alcove.
Lady Mary, how can you speak so?
You know-you must know-oh, l beg
you But she interrupted him by
taking his arm and drawing him to a
seat beside her on the cushion. She
could have drawn down the Colossus
of Rhodes with the look she gave Bran
don, so full was it of command en-
treaty and promise.
That's it. | don't know. but | want
to know. and | want you to sit here be-
side me and tell me. l am going TO be
reconciled with you despite the way
you treated me when last we met.
am going to be friends with you wheth-
say to that. sir" She spoke with q
fluttering little laugh of uneasy non
assurance, which showed that her
heart was not nearly so confident nor
so bold as her words would make be-
lieve. Poor Brandon, usually so ready
had nothing 'to say to that" but sat
in helpless silence.
Was this the sum total of all his
wise determinations made at the cost
of so much pain and effort? Was this
the answer to all his prayer, Lead
me not into temptation" He had done
his part. for he had done all he could
Heaven had not helped him, since here
was temptation thrust upon him when
least expected and when the way was
so narrow he could not escape, but
must meet it face to face.
Mary soon recovered her self posses
sion-womcn are better skilled in this
art than men-and continues
So am not intending to say one wore
about your treatment of me that day
over in the forest, although il was very
bad and YOU have acted abominably
ever since. Now is not that kind il
me-" And she softly laughed as she
] DecIltu up at lllt poor ltllON lTOll De
meath those sweeping lashes. with the
prcmeditatcd purpose of tantaliZins
him, | suppose. She was beginning t
know her power over him, and it was
never greater than at this moment
Her beauty had its sweetest quality
for the princess was sunk and the
woman was dominant, with flushed
face and flashing eyes that caught 4;
double luster from the glowing lov'
that made her heart beat so fast.
With the mood that was upon her
wonder Brandon maintained his sell
restraint even for moment. lie fel
that his only hope lay in silence. so III
sat beside her and said nothing. II,
told me long afterward that while sit
ting there in the intervals between he
speech. the oldest, widest thoughts raj
through his brain. He wondered how
he could escape. He thought of thu
window and that possibly he nigh
break away through ii, and then IN
thought of feigning illness, and hun
drcd other absurd schemes, but the.
all came to nothing. and he sat ther
to let events take their own course, Il
they seemed determined to do in spit
of him