Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-04-10


lad learned to swear in flanders
How she did fly at me the other
morning! ! never was more SURPRISED
In nil my life. For once | was almost
caught with my guard down ana diu
not know how to parry the thrust
[ mumbled over some sort OF iaihe
retaliation and beat retreat. II was
10 unjust and uncalled for that II
made me angry. But she was 30 gra-
cious In her amends that l was almost
glad 1t happened. like woman
who can be as savage as the very
devil when it pleases her she usually
has in store an assortment OF possiplii-
ties for the other extreme"
"She told me of your encounter, !
returned. "but said she had come OH
second best, and seemed to think her
overthrow huge joke"
1.-THE man who learns to know what
n woman thinks and feels will nave
great deal of valuable information ne
replied and then turned over for sleep,
greatly pleased that one woman
thought as she did.
was not sure he would be so highly
fiattered If he knew that he had been
invited to settle wager and to help
Mary to a little sport.
As to the former, l had an interest
there myself, although dared not set
tie the question by asking Brandon II
be played cards and danced, and, as to
the matter of Mary's sport, l felt there
was but little if any danger of her
having too much of it at his expense,
Brandon being well able to care for
himself in that respect.
The next evening at the appointed
time we wended our way by an unfre-
quented route and presented ourselves
as secretly as possible at the drawing
room of the princess.
The door was opened by Lady Jane,
and we met the two girls almost at the
threshold. l had told Brandon OF the
bantering conversation about the title
and estates of the late Duke OF SUFFOLK,
and he had laughed over it In the best
of humor. If quick to retaliate for an
intentional offense, he was not thin
skinned at piece Of pleasantly, and
had none of that stiff. sensitive dignity
10 troublesome to oneself and friends.
Now, Jane and Mary were always
bantering me because l was short and
Inclined to be, in fact, round. but
did not care. 1t made them laugh, and
their laughing was so contagious II
made me laugh, too, and we all en-
ioyed it. would give pound sterling
any time for a good laugh, and that,
think, is why l have always been
round.
So. upon entering, said:
His grace the Duke of Suffolk, Ia
dies"
They each made sweeping courte-
sy. with hand on breast, and gravely
saluted him;
"Your grace. good even"
Brandon's bow was as deep ana
graceful, IL that were possible, as
theirs, and when he moved on into the
room it was with a little halt in his
step and big blowing out of the
cheeks in ludicrous imitation of his
late lamented predecessor that sent the
girls into peals of soft laughter and put
US all at our ease Immediately.
All, what n thing it is to look back
upon--that time Of life when one finds
his heaven In a ready laugh!
"Be seated. ALL" said the princess.
This is to be without ceremony and
only we four. No one knows a word of
IL. Did you tell any one, Sir Edwin"
Perish the thought" exclaimed.
She turned her face toward Brandon.
"But know you did not I've heard
how discreet you were about another
matter. Well. no one knows 1t, then,
and we can have famous evening.
You did not expect this, Master Bran
don. after my reception of you the 9TH
er morning? Were you not surprised
when Sir Edwin told your"
~ think can safely say that was
prepared not to be surprised at any
thing your highness might gracious'y
conclude to do-after my first expert
ence," he answered, smiling.
"Indeed?" returned Mary, with ele-
waited eyebrows and a rising infection
on the last syllable of the word. 1t
was now her turn for little surprise.
swell, Wen try to find some way to
surprise you one of these days" And
the time came when she was full OF
surprises for him. Mary continued:
But let us not talk about the other
day. OF what use are other days any
way? Before the evening is over Mas
ter Brandon. we want you to give us
another sermon" And she laughed. set
ting off three other laughs as hearty
and sincere as if she had uttered the
rarest witticism on earth.
The princess had told Jane and Jane
had told me of the Sermon in the
Park" as Mary called it.
Jane needs it as much as l." said
lhe princess.
Il can't believe that" responded
Brandon. looking at Jane with sof-
tening glance quite too admiring and
|. commendatory to suit me, for was
jealous little devil.
The eyebrows went up again.
"Oh, you think she doesn't? Well, In
truth. Master Brandon, there is one
failing that cannot be laid at your door
you are no fatterer." For answer
Brandon laughed. and that gave us the
cue, and away we went in ripping
chorus. all about nothing. Some per-
sons may call our laughter foolish, but
there are others WHO consider it the
height of all wisdom. st. George! I'd
give my Garter for just one other laugh