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

II thought you tUishcd me to teach you
the neU dance"
swered Brandon, with a glimmer Of a
smile playing around his lips and hid
ing in his eyes.
Mary saw this shadowy smile and
said: "Oh, 1 fear your modesty will
cause you hurt. l am beginning to be-
lieve you would dare do anything you
wish. l more than half suspect you
are a very bold man, Notwithstanding
your smooth, modest manner"
"You do me foul wrong, assure you.
1 am the soul of modesty, and grieve
that you should think me bold" said
Brandon, with a broadening smile.
Mary interrupted him. Now, do
believe you are laughing at meat my
prudery, suppose you think it,
Mary would rather have been called
fool than a prude, and l think she
was right. Prudery is no more sign
of virtue than a wig is of hair. 1t is
usually put on to hide bald place.
The princess stood irresolute for a
moment in evident hesitation and an
noyance.
you are grieying because l think
you bold. And yet you stand there
laughing at me to my face. l think so
more than ever now. l know it. Oh,
you make me angry! Don't! l do not
like persons who anger me and then
laugh at me-" This turned Brandons
smile into laugh, which he could not
hold back.
Mary's eyes shot fire, and she stamp
ed her foot, eXclaiming: ''Sir, this goes
beyond all bounds l will not tolerate
your boldness another moment"
thought she was going to dismiss him,
but she did not. The time had come
when he or she must be the master.
1t was a battle royal between the
forces on the floor, and enjoyed it and
felt that Brandon would come out all
right.
He said good humoredly: "What!
Shall you have all the laugh in your
| sleeve at my expense? Do you expect
to bring me here to win a wager for
you made on the assumption of my
stupidity and lack of social accom-
plishments and then complain when it
comes my turn to laugh? think l am
the one who should be offended, but
you see l am not"
"Caskoden, did you tell him?" de-
manded Mary, evidently referring to
the wager.
HE said not word Of it." broke in
Brandon, answering for me. 81 should
have been a dullard indeed not to have
seen it myself after what you said
about the loss of your 10 crowns. So
let us cry quits and begin again."
Mary reluctantly struck her flag.
Every well, l am willing" she said
laughingly; 'but, as to your boldness,
/ still insist upon that. l forgive you,
however, this time" Then, half apollo
getically, after all, it is not such a
grievous charge to make. l believe it
never yet injured any man with wom-
en-. They rather like it, l am afraid,
however angry it makes them. Don't
they, Jane"
Jane, of course, did not know, so
we all laughed, as usual, upon the
slightest pretext, and Mary, that fair
bundle Of contradictions and quick
transitions, stepped boldly up to Bran
don, with her colors flying in her
cheeks, ready for the first lesson in the
new dance.
She was little frightened at his arm
around her waist, for the embrace was
i new to her-the first touch of man-and
/ was shy and coy, though willing, being
determined to learn the dance. She
was an apt pupil and soon glided soft
| ly and graciously around the room with
unfeigned delight, yielding to the new
situation more easily as she became
accustomed to it.
This dance was livelier exercise than
La Galliard. and Mary could not talk
! much for lack of breath. Brandon kept
the conversation going, though, and she
answered with glances, smiles, mods
and monosyllables, a very good vocab-
ulary in its way, and a very good way,
too, for that matter.
Once he said something to her I'm
low voice, which brought flush to her
cheeks and caused her to glance quick
ly up into his face. By the time her
answer came they were nearer us, and
heard her say: 81 am afraid I shall
have to forgive you again if you are
not careful. Let me see an exhibition
OF that modesty you so much boast"
But a smile and a flash of the eyes
went with the words and took all the
| sting out of them.
After time the dancers stopped, and
Mary, with flushed face and sparkling
! nrn oh
J ''The new dance is delightful, Jane. It
: is like flying, your partner helps you so.
, But what would the king say-and the