The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-05-21

half his blood to serve me. AS if any,
body wanted a drop of his wretched
blood Poor Master Brandon! His
blood and tears came, choking her
words for the moment $50 l told the
duke had promised you and Jane to
procure Master Brandon's liberty, and
asked him to do it for me- He gladly
consented and gave me his knightly
word that it should be attended to
without an hours delay He said it
might have to be done secretly in the
way of an escape-not oficially-as the
Londoners were very jealous of their
rights and much aroused on account of
the killing. Especially, he said, that at
that time great caution must be used,
as the king was anxious to conciliate
the city in order to procure a loan for
some purpose-my dover, suppose
"The duke said it should be as
wished; that Master Brandon should
escape and remain away from London
for a few weeks until the king pro-
cured his loan and then be freed by
royal proclamation.
II saw Buckingham the next day, for
l was very anxious, you may be sure,
and he said the keeper Of Newgate had
told him it had been arranged the
night before as desired. l had come
to Windsor because it was more quiet,
and my heart was full. It is quite a
distance from London, and l thought
1t might afford a better opportunity to
to see-1 thought, perhaps Master
Brandon might come-might want to-
to-see Jane and me. In fact, I wrote
him before I left Greenwich that I
should be here. Then 1 heard he had
gone to New Spain. Now you see how
all my troubles have come upon me at
once, and this the greatest of them,
because it is my fault I can ask no
forgiveness from any one, for 1 cannot
forgive myself
She then inquired about Brandon's
health and spirits, and l left out no
distressing detail, you may be sure
During my recital she sat with down.
cast eyes and tear stained face playing
with the ribbons of her hat
When I was ready to go, she said,
"Please say to Master Brandon 1 should
like-to-see-him if he cares to come,
If only that may tell him how it hap
pened."
II greatly fear, in fact, l know he
will not come" said I. "The cruelest
blow of all, worse even than the dun
geon or the sentence of death, was
your failure to save him. He trusted
you SO implicitly. At the time Of his
arrest he refused to allow me to tell
the king, saying he knew you would
see to it-that you were pure gold"
"Ah, did he say that?" she asked, as
sad little smile lighted her face.
His faith was so entirely without
doubt that his recoil from you is cor
respondingly great. He goes to New
Spain as soon as his health is recovered
sufficiently for him to travel"
This sent the last fleck of color from
her face, and with the words almost
choking her throat, "Then tell him
what I have said to you and perhaps
he will not feel so"-
II cannot do that either, Lady Mary.
When I mentioned your name the other
day, he said he would curse me if ev-
er spoke it again in his hearing.'
'Is it so bad as that?" Then, medita-
lively: "And at his trial he did not tell
the reason for the killing? Would not
compromise me, who had served him
50 ill, even to save his own life? Noble,
noblev' And her lips went together as
she rose to her feet No tears now;
nothing but glowing, determined wO-
manhood.
''Then I will go to him wherever be
may be. He shall forgive me, no mat
ter what my fault"
Soon after this we were on our way
to London at brisk gallop. ,
We were all very silent. but at one
time Mary spoke up from the midst of
q reverie: During the moment when Il
thought Master Brandon had been exc
cuted-when you said it was too late