The San Francisco call., 1903-01-18
CHAPTER VIII.
THE TROUBLE IN BILLINGsGATE
WARD

THE TROUBLE IN BILLINGSGATE
WARD
About week after Brandon's memora-
ble interview with Mary an incident Oc-
CURED which changed everything and
came very near terminating his career in
the flower OF youth II also brought about
= situation Of affairs that showed the diff
ference IN the quality Of these two per-
sons thrown so arvelously together from
their far distant stations at each end of
the ladder Of fortune. in 4 way that re-
nected very little credit upon the one from
The upper end But before ] tell you of
that ] viii relate briefly one or two other
matters that had a bearing upon what
was done. and the motives prompting it.
To begin with. Brandon had kept him
self entirely away from the Princess ever
since the afternoon al the Kings ante
but thought little Of his bsence. then she
wept. and as usual began TO grow piqUed
and irritable
What was left Of her judgment told her
81 was better for them TO remain apart.
but her longing 10 see Brandon grew
stronger as the prospect Of II grew less
and she became angry that il could not
be gratifled. Jane was right. an unSat-
isfed desire with Mary was torture.
Even her sense Of the great distance
between them had begun 10 fade and
when she so wished for him and he did
not come, their positions seemed 10 be
reversed At the end Of the third
day she sent for him to come
10 her rooms. but he. by a mighty
effort. sent back brief note saying
This. Of course. threw Mary into great
passion. FOR she Judged him by herself
n very common but dangerous method of
lucRment-anc thought that If he felt At
all az she did. he would throw prudence
10 the winds and come 10 her. as she
knew she would 90 10 him If she could.
IT cid not occur 10 her that Brandon
knew himself well enough to be sure he
would never 20 to New Spain If he al
lowed another grain Of temptation 10 fall
into the balance against him. but would
remain in l.nnnDn a love hpfeelaEG1ar IA
try TO win hopeless cause and end
u all by placing his head upon the block
II required all his strength. even now
70 hold in line his determination TO go to
New Spain. He had reached his limit
He had a fund Of that most useful Of
al wisdom, knowledge Of self and knew
MS limitations; little matter concerning
which nine men out of ten go all their
lives in blissless ignorance.
Mary. who was no more given to self
Analysis than her. pet linnet. did not ap-
preClate Brandon's potent reasons. and
was IN flaming passion when she re-
ceived his answer Rage and humiliation
completely smothered, for the time her
affection. and she said to herself over
and over again: Il hate the loVy-horn
wretch. on to think what ! have per
mitted" And tears Of shame and repent-
ance came in a flood. as they have come
from yielding woman's eyes since the
world was born. Then she began to doubt
his motives. AS long as she thought she
lad given her gift TO one who offered a
responsive passion. she was glad and
proud Of what she had done. but she had
heard Of mans pretense in order TO cozen
woman out Of her favors. and she began
10 think she had been deceived. To her
the logic seemed irresistible; that if the
same motive lived in his heart and
prompted him. tsat burned in her breast
and induced her. who wss virgin to her
very heart-core, and whose hand had
hardly before been touched by the hand
of man, 10 give so much. no power of
prudence could keep him away from her.