Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-07-03

him She was eIso fleeing with the on
man IN all the world for her and IRON
a marriage that was literally wors'
than death.
Our travellers were Of course great!
in need Of rest, so Mary went 10 me-
room and Brandon took berth In I'M
cabin set apart for the gentlemen.
They had both paid for their passage
.lthouch they had enlisted and were
part of the ships company. 1ne'
we're not expected to do sailors work
hut would be called upon in case OF
Aghting to do their part at that. Mary
was probably as good fighter IN mel
own way as one could find in long
tourney, but how she was to 10 mel
part with sword and buckler Brandon
did not know. That, however, was 9
bridge IN be crossed when they should
come to 1t.
They had gone aboard about
o'clock, and Brandon hoped the snip
would be well down Bristol channel
before he should leave his berth. But
the wind that had filed Mary's jack
boots with rain and had howled so dis
mally all night long would not sur
now that it was wanted. Noon came
vet no wind, and the sun shone as piac-
idly as If Captain Charles Brandon
were not Tuning with impotence on
the poop Of the Royal Hind. Ihree
o'clock and no wind. The captain said
Il would come with night, but shutdown
was almost at hand. and no wind yet.
Brandon knew this meant failure II II
held little longer, for he was certain
the king, with Wolsey's help would
long since have guessed the truth.
Brandon had not seen the princess
since morning, and the delicacy he felt
about going to her cabin made the sit
uation somewhat difficult. After put
ting it off from hour to hour In hope
that she would appear OF her own &C,
cord. he at last knocked at her door
and, Of course, found the lady in trou-
BILE.
The thought Of the princess going on
deck caused sinking at his heart ev-
ery time it came, as he felt that 1t was
almost impossible to conceal her iden-
tity. He had not seen her in her new
male attire. for when she threw on her
riding habit on meeting him the night
before he had Intentionally busted him
self about the horses and saw her only
after the great cloak covered her as a
gown. He felt that however well her
garments might conceal her form, no
man on earth ever had such beauty In
his face as her transcendent eyes. rose
tinted cheeks and coral lips, with their
cluster of dimples. and his heart sank
At the prospect. She might hold out for
awhile with a straight face, but when
the smiles should comet were Just
Is well to hang a placard about her
heck, This is woman" The telltale
limples would be worse than Jane fer
untimely truthfulness and
rouble provoking candor.
Upon entering Brandon found Mary
wrestling with the problem of her COM
dictated male attire. the most beauti- |
ul picture of puzzled distress imagi- /
liable. The port was open and showed |
Ter rosy as the morn when she looked \
lp at him. The jack boots were in q /
orner. and her little feet seemed to I
'ut up protest all their own against 1
DING into them that ought to have /
oftened every peg. She looked up at
Brandon with half hearted smile and I
hen threw her arms about his neck
nd sobbed like the child she was.
do you regret coming. Lady Nary"
sked Brandon. who. now that she was
lone with him, felt that he must take
o advantage of the fact to be famil-
lr.
"No, no. Not for one moment. I am
too glad. But why do you
all me Lady, You used to call me
dary.'" Y,
II don't know; perhaps because you
re alone"
"Ah! that is good of you; but you
eed not be quite so respectful"
The matter was settled by mute but
ltisfactory arbitration, and Brandon
'ntinued: You must make yourself
lady to go on deck. 1t will be hard, ,
ut it must be done" ,
He helped her with the heavy lack ,
'ots and handed her the rain stained
ouch hat which she put on and stood ,
complete man ready for the deck ,
at Is. as complete as could be evolved :
ON her utter femininity.
When Brandon looked her over, all
'pe went out of him. 1t seemed that =,
cry change Of dress only added to
# bewitching beauty by showing it
a new phase. :
1t will never do. There IL no dis. :
Using you. What is it that despite :
erything shows so Enthusiastically
minnie: What shall we do? have \
You shall remain here under the .
etense of illness until we are well at :,
a, and then l will tell the captain all. =
is too bad, and vet would not have /.
one whit less a woman for all the :.
rid. A man loves a woman who ia .
thoroughly womanly that nothing
q hide it"
larry was pleased at his fiattery. but =,
appointed at the failure in herself,
mad thought that surely these gar.
nts would make a man of her in =
ich the keenest eye could not detect
aw.
lAu