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

T. eFe.F
premeditated purpose of :, tantalizing
him, suppose. She was" beginning to
know her power over him, and it was
never greater than at this moment.
Her beauty had it's sweetest quality.
for the princess was sunk and the
woman was dominant, with flushed
face and flashing eyes that caught a
double luster from the glowing love
that made her heart beat so fast.
With the mood that was upon her
wonder Brandon maintained his self
restraint even for moment. He felt
that his only hope lay in silence, SO he
sat beside her and said nothing. He
told me long afterward that while sit
ting there in the intervals between her
speech, the oldest, widest thoughts ran
through his brain. He wondered how
he could escape. He thought Of the
window and that possibly he might
break away through it, and then he
thought of feignin4 illness, and hun
dred other absurd schemes, but they
all came to nothing, and he sat there
to let events take their own course, as
they seemed determined to do in spite
of him.
After a short silence Mary continued
half banteringly: ANSWER me, sir! l
will have no more Of this. You shall
treat me at least with the courtesy you
would show bourgeoise girl"
"Oh, that you were only a burgher's
daughter!'
Eyes, l know all that; but am not.
1t can't be helped, and you shall an
swer me-"
"There is no answer, dear lady. l
beg you-oh, do you not see''-
Yes, yes; but answer my question.
Am I not kind, more than you de-
serve?
have always been SO kind, so gracious
and so condescending to me that can
only thank you, thank you. thank you,"
answered Brandon almost 'shyly. not
daring to lift his eyes to hers.
Mary saw the manner quickly enough
what woman ever missed it, much
less so keen eyed girl as she-and it
gave her confidence and brought back
the easy banter of her old time man
ner.
"How modest we have become!
Where Is the boldness Of which we
used to have so much? Kind? Have
I always been so? How about the first
time 1 met you? Was l kind then?
And as to condescension, don't-don't
use that word between u.s."
NO." returned Brandon, who in his
turn was recovering himself; mo,
can't say that you were very kind at
first. How you did fly out at me and
surprise me! 1t was so unexpected it
almost took me off my feet" And they
both laughed in remembering the scene
of their first meeting. mo, can't say
your kindness showed itself very
strongly in that first interview, but
it was there nevertheless, and when
Lady Jane led me back your real ma
ture asserted itself, as it always does,
and you were kind to me-kind as only
you can be-
That was getting very near to the
sentimental - dangerously near, he
thought, and he said to himself, IF
this does not end quickly, l shall have
to escape"
"You are easily satisfied if you call
that good" laughingly returned Mary.
II can be ever so much better than
that if try"
LET me see you try" said Brandon.
"Why, I'm trying now" answered
Mary, with distracting little pout.
Don't you know genuine out and out
goodness when you see it? I'm doing
my very best now. Can't you tell?"
Yes, think recognize it, but-but
--be bad again."
mo, l won't! l will not be bad even
to please you. I have determined not
to be bad, and I will not-not even to
be good. This" placing her hand over
her heart, 'is just full Of good today"
And her lips parted as she laughed at
her own pleasantly.