Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-06-01


Brandon of. too. for he thought 1t the
cuaintest. prettiest little gesture In the
world and was all unconscious that our
laugh was NJ his expense.
brandon did not answer Mary's invi-
tation-the fit OF laughter had probably
put IL out Of his mind-so she. evidently
anxious TO win or lose her wager at
once. again asked him If he danced.
oh, pardon me, or course! Thank
your And he was on his feet beside
her chair i'm an instant ready for the
dance. This time the girls laugh,
though equally merry, had another
tone. for she knew she had lost.
out they stepped upon the polished
floor. he holding her hand in his, await
Ing the pause in the music to take the
step. shall never forget the sight of
those two standing there together
Mary. dark eyed and glowing; Brandon,
almost rosy. with eyes that held the
color OF a dark spring sky and a wealth
OF flowing curls browning his six feet
OF perfect manhood, strong and vigor-
Gus as young lion. Mary, full of
beauty curves and graces, a veritable
Venus In her teens, and Brandon, an
Apollo. with touch Of Hercules. were
n complement each to the other that
would surely make perfect one.
When the music started, of they
went, heel and toe, bow and courtesy,
a step forward and step back, in per-
feet time and rhythm-a poem of hui
man motion. Could Brandon dance?
The princess had her answer In the
first ten steps. Nothing could be more
graceful than Brandon's dancing I'M
less ii were Mary's. Her slightest
movement was grace itself. When she
would throw herself backward In
thrusting out her toe and then swing
forward with her head little to one
side, her uplifted arm undulating like
the white neck OF a swan-for her
sleeve, which was slit to the shoulder,
fell back and left II bare-she was q
sight worth long journey to see. And
when she looked up to Brandon with a
laugh In Ter brown eyes and a curving
smile just parting her full. red lips
that a mail would give his very luck to
but / had better stop.
"Was there ever a goodlier coupler
i asked Jane, by whose side sat-
"Never." she responded as she played,
and, strange to say, l was jealous be-
cause she agreed with me. l was jeal-
Gus because feared it was Brandon's
beauty to which she referred. That
thought would naturally appeal to her.
Had he been less handsome / should
perhaps have thought nothing Of it,
but | knew what my feelings were to-
ward Mary, and l judged, or rather
misjudged, Jane by myself. l sup
posed she would think Of Brandon as
/ could not help thinking of Mary.
Was anything in heaven or earth ever
so beautiful as that royal creature
dancing there. daintily holding up her
skirts with thumb and first finger, just
far enough to show a distracting little
foot and ankle and make one wish he
had been born a sheep rather than a
sentient r.an who had to live without
Mary Tudor? Yet. strange as it may
seem, was really and wholly in love
with Jane. In fact, loved no one but
Jane. and my feeling of intense admit
ration for Mary was but a part Of
mans composite Inconsistency.
A woman-God bless her!-if she real
ly loves a MN. has no thought of any
other-One at time Is all sufficient
but a man may love one woman with
the warmth of a simoom and at the
same time feel IKE a good, healthy
south wind toward a dozen others.
That is the difference between a man
and woman-the difference between
the good and the bad. One average
woman has enough goodness in her to
supply an army of men.
Mary and Brandon went on dancing
long after Jane was tired Of playing.
1t was plain to see that the girl was
thoroughly enjoying it. They kept up
a running fire Of small talk and laugh
ed and smiled and bowed and courte-
sled, all in perfect time and grace.
1t is more difficult than you may
think, if you have never tried, to keep
up a conversation and dance La Gal
lard at the same time-one is apt to
balk the other. But Brandon's dancing
was as easy to him as walking, and, al
though so small matter. could see it
raised him vastly in the estimation of
both girls.
do you play triumph" heard Ma
~ ask in the midst of the dancing.
"Oh. yes" replied Brandon. much to
my delight, as the princess threw
mischievous, knowing glance over her
shoulder to see If had heard. She at
once saw l had, and this, of course,
settled the wager.
And" continued Brandon, 81 also
play the new game, honor and ruff,
which is more interesting than tri-
umph."
"Oh. do your" cried Mary. THAT
will more than compensate for the loss
OF my 10 crowns. Let us sit down at
once. l have been wishing to learn,
but no one here seems to know 1t. In
France, they say. 1t is the only game