The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-06-05
CHAPTER XIV.

a II
Nv" for affection, a mistake fire.
@ quently made by people not
He<2 given to self analysis. and in
n day or two a reaction set in toward
Brandon which inspired a desire to
make some amends for his harsh
treatment. This he could not do To
any great extent on Buckingham's ac-
count-at least not until the London
loan was in his coffers-but the fact
that Brandon was going to New Spain
so soon and would be out OF the way
both of Mary's eyes and Mary's mar
rage stimulated that rare flower in
Henry's heart, a good resolve. and
Brandon was offered his old quarters
with me until such time as he should
sail for New Spain.
He had never abandoned this plan.
and now that matters had taken this
| turn with Mary and the king his reso-
luton was stronger than ever in that
the scheme held two Recommendations
| and n possibility.
The recommendations We're, first, II
would take him away from Mary. with
whom, when out of the inspiring in
| fiuence of her buoyant hopefulness.
he knew marriage to be utterly impos-
sible, and, second, admitting and fac
ing that impossibility, he might find
| at least partial relief from his heart
/ ache in the stirring events and adven-
lures of that faraway land of monsters.
dragons, savages and gold. The posi-
bility lay in the gold. and a very faint
ly burning flame of hope held out the
still more family glimmering chance
that fortune, finding him there almost
alone. might for lack OF another lover
smile upon him by way OF squaring ac-
counts. She might lead him to q cav
ern of gold. and gold would do any
thing. even perhaps purchase a price,
less a treasure as a certain princess OF
the royal blood.
Brandon at once accepted the kings
offer of lodging In the palace, for now
that he felt sure OF himself in the mat
ter OF New Spain and his separation
from Mary he longed to see as much as
possible OF her before the light went
out forever. even though II were play
ing with death itself to do so.
Poor fellow, His suffering was SO
acute during this period that 1t affect
ed me like a contagion.
1t did not make a NOPE OF him, but
came In spasms that almost drove hin
wild. He would at times pace the
room and cry out: "Jesu, Caskoden
what shall do? She will be the wife
OF the French king. and ! shall sit In
! the wilderness and try every moment
to imagine what she Is doing and think
ing. shall find the bearing OF Paris
and look in her direction until my braiI
melts in my effort to see her. and theI
I shall wander in the woods. a suffer
, ing imbecile. feeding on roots and nuts
Would to God one OF US might die! 1
1t were not selfish. should wish
: might be the one"
said nothing I'm answer to these out
. bursts, as had no consolation to offer
i We had two or three OF our littl'
= meetings OF four. dangerous as the.
I were, at which Mary. feeling that eacl
!. time she saw Brandon might be tn
last, would sit and look at him witt
glowing eyes that In turn softened ant
4 burned as he spoke. She did not tall
. much, but devoted all her time and en-
I ergies to looking with her whole SOU
. Never before or since was there a gir
so much in love. a young girl thol
. oughly in love Is the most beautifu
object on earth-beautiful even in ue
= illness. Imagine, then, what 1t made o
Mary,
Growing partly. perhaps, out Of hi
unattainability-for he was as far ou
of her reach as she out OF his-she ha
!, long since begun to worship him. Sh
}. had learned to know him so well, an
> his valiant defense of her In Billing
" gate, together with his noble self sacr
fee in refusing to compromise her
Il order to save himself, had presente
" him to her in so noble light that sh
had come to look up to him as her 81
g perior. Her surrender had been con
plete, and she found in 1t JOY far e.
ceeding that OF any victory or trump
she could imagine.
Of The trouble began in earnest wit
h. the discovery OF our meetings in Lad
IN Mary's parlor. There was nothing ;
IN all unusual in the fact that small con
to panies of young folk frequently spei
their evenings with her. but we kne
~. | we'll enough tnaI tne uuuSudi eieihei
be in our parties was their exceedir
~ smallness. \ company of eight or Il
or young persons was well enough, q
though it OF course created jealousy {
mt the part OF those who were left ou
ne /, but four-two OF each sex-made di
ay ference i'm kind. however much v
as might insist IL was only in degree. al
this. we soon learned. was the king
60. opinion.
You may be sure there was many
jealous person about the court rea'
to carry tales and that IL was impos
BILE long to keep our meetings seer
ast among such n host as then lived
50. Greenwich palace.
Ri. One day the queen summoned Jal
ov and put her TO the question Now. ia
thought the truth was made only to
:iaI told. n fallacy into which many go
rT' people have fallen. to their utter q
struction. since the truth. like eve