The San Francisco call., 1903-01-18
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own pleasantly.
1 give you fair warning. said Brandon
huSkily. he felt her eyes upon him all
the time and his strength and good re-
an T ii-coopereS %s5s p1 s |hs sbort ron s
lence Mary continued, regardless Of tho
warning:
but the position is reversed with US:
at first 1 was unkind TO you and you
were kind to me. but now 1 am kind to
you and you are unkind to me-"
i can come back at you with your
own words responded Brandon. you
don't know when 1 am kind to you 1
should be kinder to myself at least. were
to leave you and take myself TO the
other Si0e Of the world"
"Oh! that is one thing I wanted to ask
you about Jane tells me you are going
to New SpainY'
She was anxious TO know, but asked
the question partly to turn the converse
ton, which was fast becoming perilous-
As girl she loved Brandon, and knew
IL only too well; but she also knew that
she was Princess, standing next to the
throne of the greatest kingdom on EARTH
In fa4t, at that time the heir apparent
would not nave the Scotch Kings imp
and the possibility OF such a thing al
a union with Brandon had never enter
feelings toward h4m She also knew that
speaking thought vitaliZes il and gives
II force; So, although she could not deny
of seeing him and hearing the tones OF
his voice, and now and then feeling the
thrill Of an accidental tOuch, she had
enough good sense to know that mu-
tuaI confession. that is. taking il for
granted that Brandon loved her, as she
1elt almost sure he did, must be avoid
ed at all hazards. 1t was not to be
thought Of between people so far apart
they. The brink was a delightful
place, full OF the sweet ecstasies and
thrilling joys OF a seventh heaven, but
fha hl-{r .I
over" for who was she? And who was
he? These two dreadfuIly stubborn facts
could not be forgotten, and the gulf be
tween them could not be spanned; she
knew that only too well. No one bet
ter.
not know about going; think shall
have volunteered with ship that sails
In two or three weeks from Bristol, and
1 suppose I shall CO.
gave her a pang to hear that be was
actually going, and her love pulsed
higher but she also felt sense Of relief,
breaker might feel upon fndfng the door
securely locked against him It would
4. take away temptation which she could
mot resist. and yet dared not yield to
much longer.
II think there is no doubt that I mean
it, replied Brandon. ''I should Ike to
enough money out Of the Kings allow
ance to pay the debt against my fathers
estate SO CnaC may be able TO go
and feel that my brother and sisters are
secure in their home-my brother Is not
strong-but know II Is better for me to
go now. and hope to find the money out
lost TO JudSOn before | discovered him
cheating" This was the first time ne had
ever alluded to the duel, and the thought
of fear to her feeling toward him
She looked up with light In her eyes
and asked: What Is the, debtP How
have SO much more than I need Let me
pay it. Please tell me how much IL Is
and 1 will hand it to you You can come
to my rooms and get II or I will send
it to you. Now tell me that I may.
thusiastic interest
There nowI you are kind again; as
kind as even you can be. Be sure I
thank you. although / say II only once
and he looked into her eyes with a gaze
she could not stand even for an Instant
This was growing dangerous again, so,
catching himself, he turned the conver-
satton back into the bantering vein.
'Ah! you want to pay the debt that I
may have no excuse to remaIn7 Is that
ALL"
mol no. you know better. But lat mo
whom is it owing? Tell me at once,
command YOU"
No! no! Lady Mary, I cannot"
please do. I beg-lf I cannot com
mand- Now know you will; you would
not make me beg twice for anything"
She drew closer TO him as she spoke, and
put her arm coaXingly upon his arm
With an irresistible impulse he took the
hand in his and lifted it to his lips in
a lingering caress that could not be mis-
taken. 1t was all so quick and 50 full
of fire and meaning that Mary took
fright, and the Princess, for the mo-
ment. came qppermost
Master Brandonw she exclaimed
sharply and drew away her hand. Bran
don dropped the hand and moved over
on the seat He did not speak, but turn
ed his face from her and looked out OF
the window toward the river. Thus they
sat in silence, BrandOns hand resting list
lessly upon the cushion between them
from her and his speaking attitude, with
ave-ted face; then the Princess went into
eclipse. and the imperial woman was
for brief space with softening eyes,
and, lifting her hand, put 1t back In his,
saying:
There it is again-if you want itH
Want it2 Ali This Is too muchI The
hand would not satisfy now; II must be
all, all! And he caught her to his arms
with violence that frightened her.
Ali have mercy, CharI- WeiIl Therel
Therei Mary mother, for
give me" Then her woman spirit fell
she was on his breast with her white
arms around his neck, paying the same
tribute to the little blind god that ne
WoulN nave CAdCtCO AIOAn the lOWle9L
maiden Of the land. Just as though IL
were not the blood OF fifty Kings and
Queens that made so red and sweet aye
sweet as nectar thrice distilled, those lips
which now so freely paid their dues in
coined bliss.
Brandon held the~girI for moment or
Two, then fell upon his knees and buried
his face in her lap.
Heaven help met' he cried
She pushed the hair back from his fore
head with her hand, and as she fondled
the curls leaned over him and softly
Heaven help us both; for I love
your
He sprang to his feet. Don't! don't!
1 pray you," he said wildly, and almost
ran from her.
Mary followed him nearly TO the door
of the room, but when he turned he
saw that she had stopped and was
standing with her hands over her face,