Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-07-06
CHAPTER VIII.
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Copyright. 1878 and 1901.
bu the BOtncH- Mcrru Company

NAAfA NAalAfh ever. AhlAAE
and came very near terminating his en-
reer I'm the flower Of youth. II also
brought ABB NJ n situation OF affairs
that showed the difference in the quail
fly OF these two persons thrown so
marvelously together from their far
distant stat. ms at each end OF the lad
der OF fortune I'm a way that reflected
very little credit upon the one from
the upper ED. But before tell you
OF that will relate briefly one or two
other matters that had bearing upon
what was done and the motives prompt
ing t.
To begin with, Brandon had kept
himself entirely away from the prin-
cess ever since the afternoon at the
kings antechamber. The first day or
so she sighed. but thought little Of his
absence; then she wept and. as usual,
began TO grow piqued and irritable.
What was left Of her judgment told
her IL was better for them to remain
apart, but her longing to see Brandon
grew stronger as the prospect OF 1t
grew less, and she became angry that
It could not be gratifed. Jane was
right; an unsatisfed desire with Mary
was torture. Even her sense of the
great distance between them had be-
gun TO fade, and when she so wished
for him and he did not come their posi-
tons seemed 20 be reversed. At the
end OF the third day she sent for him
10 come 20 her rooms, but he by a
mighty effort sent back a brief note
saying that he could not and ought not
60 go This. of course threw Mary into
n great passion, for she judged him by
herself. n very common but dangerous
method Of judgment, and thought that
II he felt at all as she did he would
throw prudence to the WINDS and come
60 her, as she knew she would go to
linn II she could. 1t did not occur to
her that Brandon knew himself well
enough to be sure he would never go
20 New Spain II he allowed another
grain Of temptation TO fall into the bal
nnce against him, but would remain in
London TO love hopelessly. to try to
win n hopeless cause and end IL all by
placing his head upon the block.
IL required all his strength even now
60 hold fast his determination to go to
New Spain. He had reached his linn
IL. He had fund of that most use
full OF all wisdom. knowledge of self,
and knew his limitations, little mat
ter concerning which nine men out of
ten go all their lives in blissless ig-
norance.
Mary. who was no more given to self
analysis than her pet linnet, did not
appreciate Brandon's potent reasons
and was in a flaming passion when she
received his answer. Rage and humili-
alton completely smothered for the
time her affection, and she said to her
self over and over again: IL hate the
lowborn wretch. oh, to think what
have permittedr' 1t seemed only too
clear that she had been too quick to
give. no very comforting thought to a
proud girl even though a mistaken one.
AS the days went by and Brandon
did not come her anger cooled as usual,
and again her heart began TO ache, but
by day and she thought she was be-
yond n doubt the most III used of wo-
men.
The negotiations for Mary's marriage
with old Louis XII. Of France were be-
ginning TO be al open secret about the
court. The Due de Longueville, who
had been held by Henry for some time
as a sort OF hostage from the French
king. had opened negotiations by in.
flaming the pickering passions Of old
Louis with descriptions OF Mary's beau.
~. AS there was a prospect of a new
emperor soon and as the imperial bee
had of late been making a most vehe.
ment buzzing in Henry's bonnet, he
encouraged De Longueville and thought
it would be n good time to purchase
the help OF France ut the cost of his
beautiful sister and handsome dover
Mary of course had not been consulted
and although she had coaxed her
brother out of other marriage project:
Henry had gone about this as II be
were in earnest. and II was thought
throughout the court that Mary's coax
bugs would be all in vain-a fear which
she herself had begun TO share. not
understanding her usual self confidence
She hated the thought OF the mar
rage and dreaded IL as she would dealt
tself though she said nothing to an
pne but Jane and was holding he
forces in reserve for a grand attack
she was preparing the way by being
very sweet and kind TO Henry.
Now. all OF this. coming upon TIT
heels OF her trouble with Brandon
made her most wretched indeed. Flo
he first time in her life she began q
eel suffering-that great broadener. Il
|act maker. OF human character.
Above all. there was an alarming
kense OF uncertainty in everything. Sh'
,ould hardly bring herself TO believ'
hat Brandon would really 60 to New
pain and that she would actually los
i'm. although she did not want him a
Fet-that is. as a prospective husband
Flashes OF all sorts Of wild scheme
|ad begun to shoot through her ange