The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-08-14

never spoken or II. am not mucn uI
Joseph and am very little given to
running away from beautiful wom-
an, but In this case l am fleeing from
death itself. And to think what n
heaven 1t would be! You arc right,
Caskodcn-nO man can withstand the
light of that girls smile. l am unable
to tell how feel toward her. 1t some
times seems that l cannot live another
hour without seeing her. Yet, thank
God, have reason enough left to know
that every sight of hcr only adds to an
already incurablc malady. What will
1t be when she Is the wife Of the king
Of France? Docs 1t not look as IL wild
life In New Spain Is my only chancc?"
assentcd as wc joined hands, and
our eyes were moist us l told him how
1 should miss him more than any one
else In all the .earth-exccpting Jane,
In mental reservation.
1 told Jane what Brandon was about
to do, knowing full wcll she would tell
Mary, which she did at once.
Poor Mary! The sighs began to come
now, and such small vestigcs Of her i'll
mained were frightened Off in hurry
by the fear that she had seen the last
of him.
She had not before fully known that
she loved him. She knew he was the
most delightful companion she had
ever met and that there was an ex-
lIilaration about his presence which al
most intoxicated her and made life an
ecstasy, yet she did not know 1t was
love. 1t needed but the thought that
she was about to lose him to make her
know her malady and meet it face to
face.
Upon the evening when Mary learn.
ed all this she went into her chamber
very early and closed the door. No
one interrupted her until Jane went In
to robe her for the night and to retire.
She then found that Mary had robed
herself and was lying In bed with her
head covered, apparently asleep. Jane
quietly prepared to retire and lay
down in her own bed. The girls usual
ly shared one couch, but during Mary's
Ill temper she had forced Jane to sleep
alone.
After short silence Jane heard a
sob from the other bed, then another
and another.
"Mary, are you wceping" she asked.
Eyes"
"What Is the matter, dearT'
Nothing" with sigh.
"Do you wish me to come to your
bed?'
Eyes, / do" So Jane went over and
lay beside Mary, who gently put her
arms about her neck
"When will he lcaveY whispered
Mary, shyly confessing all by her ques-
ton.
IL do not know" responded Jane,
"but lie will see you before he goes"
"Do you believe he willT
II know it." And with this consola-
ton Mary softly wept herself to sleep.
After this, for few days, Mary was
aulct enough. Her irritable mood had
vanished, but Jane could SEQ that she
was on the lookout for some ono all
the time, although she made the most
pathetic little efforts to conceal her
watchfulness.
At last meeting came about in this
way: Next to the kings bedchamber
was luxuriously furnished little
apartment with Il well selected library.
Here Brandon and 1 often went after
Moons to read, us we were sure to be
updlsturbcd.
Lato one day Brandon had gone over
to this quiet retreat and, having select
ed volume, took his place in a seclud-
cd little alcove half hidden in arras
draperles. There was a cuyhioncd seat
along the wall and n small diamond
shaped window to furnish light
He had not been there long when in
came Mary. cannot say whether she
knew Brandon was there or not, but
she was there and he was there, which
Is the only thing to the point, and, find
Ing him, she stepped into the alcove be-
fore he was aware Of her presence.
Brandon was OIL his feet in an in
slant and with n low bow was back
ing himself out most deferentially to
leave her In sole possession, If she
wished to rest.
Master Brandon, you need not CO.
will not hurt you. Besides, IL this
place is not large enough for us both,
/ will go. l would not disturb You"
She spoke with n tremulous voice and
n quick, uneasy glance, and started to
move backward out OF the alcove.
Lady Mary, how can you speak SO?
You know-you must know-oh, beg
YOU But she interrupted him by
taking his arm and drawing him to n
seat beside her on the cushion. She
could have drawn down the Colossus