Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-06-24

OF such q thing as a union with Bran
don had never entered her head, how
ever passionate her feelings toward
MIN. 1T was not to be thought of be-
tween people so far apart as they.
Brandon answered her question: 81
DO not know about going. l think l
shall. have volunteered with ship
that sails in two or three weeks from
Bristol, and suppose shall CO.,
"Oh, moi Do you really mean it?' 1t
gave hex pang to hear that he was
actually going, and her love pulsed
higher, but she also felt sense of re-
lief. .somew hat as a conscientious
housebreaker might feel upon finding
the door securely locked against him.
1t would take away temptation
which she could not resist and yet
dared not yield to much longer.
Il think there is no doubt that
mean it," replied Brandon. II should
like to remain in England until l can
save money enough out Of the kings
allowance to pay the debt against my
fathers estate, so that may be able
to go away and feel that my brother
and sisters are secure in their home
my brother is not stronghold l know
it Is better for me to go now, and
hope to find the money out there.
could have paid it with what I lost to
Judson before discovered him cheat
ing" This was the first time he had
ever alluded to the duel, ard the
thought Of 1t, in Mary's mind, added q
faint touch of fear to her feeling to-
ward him.
She looked up with a light in her eyes
and asked: What is the debt? How
much? Let me give you the money.
have so much more than l need. Let
me pay it. Please tell me how much
it is, and l will hand it to you. You
can come to my rooms and get it. or
will send it to you. Now tell me that
I may. Quickly!' And she was alive
with enthusiastic interest.
'There, now, you are kind again, as
kind as even you can be. Be sure,
thank you, though say it 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 conversation back into the banter
ing vein.
"Ah, you want to pay the debt that
may have no excuse to remain? Is
that it? Perhaps you are not so kind
after ALL"
mo, no; you know better. But let
me pay the debt. How much is it. and
to whom is it owing? Tell me at once,
command you"
mo, no. Lady Mary; cannot"
"Please do. beg. if l cannot CON-
mand. Now I know you will. You
would not make me beg twice for any
thing?" She drew closer to him as she
spoke and put her hand coaxingly upon
bis arm. With an irresistible impulse
he took the hand in his and lifted it to
his lips in lingering caress that could
not be mistaken. 1t was all so quick
and SO full Of fire and meaning that
Mary took fright, and the princess for
the moment came uppermost.
Master Brandonv' she exclaimed
sharply and drew away her hand. Bran
don dropped the hand and moved over
on the seat. He did not speak. but
turned his face from her and looked
out of the window toward the river.
Thus they sat in silence, Brandon's
hand resting listlessly upon the cush-
ion between them. Mary saw the elo-
Quent movement away from her and
his speaking attitude with averted face;
then the princess went into eclipse. and
the imperial woman was ascendant
once more. She looked at him for a
brief space with softening eyes and,
lifting her hand, put it back in his, say
ing:
''There it is again-if you want it."
Want it? All, this was too much!
The hand would not satisfy now. 1t
must be all, all! And he caught her to
his arms with a violence that fright
ened her.
"Please don't; please! Not this time!
All, have mercy. Charl-' Well! There!
There! Mary mother, forgive met!
Then her woman spirit fell before the
whirlwind of his passion, and she was
on his breast, with her white arms
around his neck, paying the same trib-
ute to the little blind god that he would
have exacted from the lowliest maiden
Of the land.
Brandon held the girl 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
forehead with her hand and as she
f0ndled the curls leaned over him and
softly whispered:
"Heaven help us both, for I love
your
He sprang to his feet. "Don't! Don't,
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,
as If in tears.
He went back to her and said, II
tried to avoid this, and If you had
helped me it would never But he
remembered how he had always de-