The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-09-11

G.aHS:ss them, and Mary walked tn
the middle of the floor. 1t was lust
growing; dark, and tie room was quite,
dim, save at the window where Bran
don sat reading. Gods. those were OK
citing moments! My heart heat like a
woman'S Brandon saw the girls when
they entered. but never so much as
looked up from his book You must re-
member he had Il great grievance. Jane
ana had remained near the door, and
poor Mary was n pitiabic princess,
standing there so full Of doubt in tho
middle of the room. After II moment
she stepped toward tie window and.
with quick coming breath stnnncd Mt
the threshold of the little passn.,o.
Master Brandon, have come. not TO
make excuses, for nothing can excuse
me, but to tell you how it all happened
by trusting to another"
Brandon arCSr and. marking the
place liz his book with his finger, fol-
lowed Mary, who had stepped back
ward into the room.
Your hiGhn"SS is very gracious and
Kind thus to honor me- hut as orr .Noys
VIII hereafter lie rs far apart as the
world Is broad. think it would have
hrch Tar better had you rrfraincd from
so lmprldcnt Il visit, especially IS any
thlnS one so exalted us Yourself may
have TO say can he no affair of such rs
l-on" just free OF the han"man's
nOoSc.'
"Oh, don't. | pray You. Let me tell
YOU. ana 1t may make a difference. 1t
must pain You, know, to think of me
rs You do. aftrr-aftcr-yGu know: aft
or what has passed between u.s.
Yes, that only makes it all the hard
or. If you could give your klSscs"-and
she blushcd red rs blood "to one for
whom you care so little thas you could
leave him to die like dog, when a
word from You would have saved him,
what reason have | 10 suppose they arc
not for every man:''
This gave Mary an opening of which
she was quick enough to take advan-
tagc, for Brandon was in the wrong.
You know that is not true. You are
not honest with me nor With yourself,
and that Is not like You. YCu know that
no other man ever had, or could have,
any favor from me, even the slightest.
Wantonncss is not among my thousand
faults. 1t is not that which nngcrs
YOU. You arc sure enough of me In that
respect. In truth. | had almost come
10 believe You were too sure. that had
grown cheap in your eyes, and YOU did
rot care so nue.: rs | thought and
lopcd for what | had to sivc. for after
that day YOU cane not rear me at ALL
| know IT was the part Of wisdcm and
prEdcnc" that you should remain away,
hut had you cared as much as your
prudence would not have hc!d YOU"
She luDg her head u moment In 81
lcnc", then. looking 1T him. almost
ready for tears. ContinuCd: "a man has
10 right to speak in that way of Il wo-
man whose little favOrS lie has taken,
anh mnk" her regret that she has given
n g;ft only that ii may rccoil upon her.
Little did say? Sir, do you know
what That --iirSt-kiSs was 10 me? Had
| possessed al tha crowns of all the
earth ! wanid have given them To you
IA Willingly. Now You know the value
| placed on it, however worthless it
was to you. Yet was cheerful givcr
Of that gift, was not? And can you
find II III your heart to make of it a
shame TO me-that of which | was so
rroud?"
Sl" stood there, with head inclined q
little TO one s:Gc, looking at him in
Quiringly rs if awaiting an answer lie
did not speak, but looked steadily at
lis nook. | felt, however, that he was
changing and | was sure her beauty,
never more exquisite than in its pres
c"t humility, would yet atCnc for even
so great II fault as hers. Err, look beau
tiful and receive remission. Such n
woman as Mary carries her indulgence
ii. her face.
now began to realize for the first