Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-06-29
Copyright, 1898 and 1901.
bu the BOtncn- Merrill Company

sat beside her and said nothing. He
told me long afterward that while sit
ting there I'm the intervals between her
speech. the oldest, widest thoughts ran
through his brain. He wondered how
he could escape. He thought of the
window and that possibly he might
break away through il. and then he
thought OF feigning illness, and hun
dred other absurd schemes, but they
all came 10 nothing. and he sat there
20 let events take their own course, as
they seemed determined to do in spite
OF him.
After a short silence Mary continued
half banteringly: Answer me. sir
will have no more Of this. You shall
treat me at least with the courtesy you
would show a bourgeoise girl"
"Oh. that you were only burgher's
daughterr'
Eyes, know all that; but am not.
II can't be helped, and you shall an
swer me-"
There Is no answer, dear lady.
beg you-oh. do you not see"-
Eyes, yes: but answer my question.
Am l not kind, more than you de-
server
Indeed. yes; a thousand times. You
have always been so kind, so gracious
and so condesccnding to me that can
only thank you. thank you, thank you"
answered Brandon almost shyly, not
daring to lift his eyes to hers.
Mary saw the manner quickly enough
what woman ever missed IL, much
less so keen eyed girl as she-and Il,
gave her confidence and brought back
the easy batter of her old time man
ner.
Where Is the boldness OF which we
used TO have so much? Kind? Have
i always been so? How about the first
time | met your Was l kind then?
And as TO condescensiOn, don't-don't
use that word between u.s."
mo-" returned Brandon, who In his
turn was recovering himself; mo, l
can't say that you were very kind at
first. How you did fy out at me and
surprise me! 1t was so unexpected it
almost took me off my feet" And they
both laughed In remembering the scene
of their first meeting. mo, l can't say
your kindness showed itself very
strongly in that first interview, but
IL was there nevertheless, and when
Lady Jane led me back your real ma
ture asserted itself, as II always does,
and you were kind to me-kind as only
you can be-"
That was getting very near to the
sentimental - dangerously near, he
thought, and he said to himself, IF
this does not end quickly, l shall have
to escape"
"You are easily satisfied IL you call
that good" laughingly returned Mary
81 can be ever so much better than
that If l try"
LET me see you try said Brandon.
"Why, I'm trying now" answered
Mary, with a distracting little pout
Don't you know genuine out and out
goodness wien you see it? I'm doing
my very besl now. Can't you tellP
Eyes, | think recognize 1t, but-bu
--be bad again."
"No, | won't! l will not be bad ever
TO please you. l have determined no
to be bad, and will not-not even tC
be good. This" placing her hand ovel
her heart, sis just full of good today
And her lips parted as she laughed a
her own pleasantly.
IL am afraid you had better be bad
give you fair warning" said Brandon
huskily. He felt her eyes upon him al
the time, and his strength and gooC
resolves were oozing out like wine from
an III coopered cask After a short 81
lence Mary continued, regardless OF tn
warning:
"But the position Is reversed with US
At first | was unkind to you. and 20,
were kind to me, but now l am kind t
you, and you are unkind to me-"
II can come back at you with you
own words" responded Brandon. "Yo
don't know when l am kind to you.
should be kinder, to myself at least
were 10 leave you and take myself
the other side OF the world"
"Oh. that is one thing l wanted I
ask you about. Jane tells me you ar
going TO New Spain"
She was anxious 10 know, but aske
the question partly to turn the convel
sation, which was fast becoming peri
GUS AS n girl she loved Brandon an
knew Il only too well. but she knee
also that she was a princess, standin
next 10 the throne OF the greatest kim
dom on earth-in fact. at that time II
heir apparent. Henry having no chi
dren. for the people would not have n
Scotch kings imp. and the possibilit
OF such a thing as n union with Bral
don had never entered her head. how
ever passionate her feelings towaI
him. IL was not TO be thought Of b
tween people so far apart as they.
Brandon answered her question:
do not know about going. l think
shall | have volunteered with a SD
that sails I'm two or three weeks fro
Bristol. and | suppose ! shall CO."
ooh. no! DO you really mean itT'