Cañon City record., 1903-12-24
A Realistic Storylof the Days Of Henry VIII
BY Edwin aCaskoden.

we marched over broken walls to the
most Iaughable defeat ever suffered by
besieging army. Our foe though small.
was altogether too fertile in expedients
for us. There seemed no way to con-
quer this girl. Her resources were so
inexhaustible that in the moment Of
your expected victory success WIS
turned into defeat; nay. more. ridic-
ulous disaster.
We found Jane crouching on the door
in a corner half dead with fright from
the noise and tumult. and where do
you think we found ber mistressf
Frightened? Not at all. She was ly-
ing in bed with her face to the wall as
cool as a January morning. her cloth
ing in little heap in the middle of the
room.
without turning her head. she ex-
claimed: Come in. brother. You are
quite welcome. Bring IN your friends.
1 am ready to receive them. though not
in court attire. as you see." And she
thrust her bare arm straight up from
the bed to prove her words. You
should have seen the Frenchman's lit
tie black eyes gloat on Its beauty
Mary wen on. still looking toward
the wall Il will arise and receive you
all informally il you will but wait
This disco.certed the imperturbable
Henry. who was about at his wits end
Cover that arm. you hussy" he
cried in n flaming rage
BE not impatient. brother mine.
will jump out in just a moment"
A little scream from Jane startled ev-
,t,I sl.s tex y r-a N IN the
king. saying: Il beg your majesty to
go. She will do as she says SO sure as
you remain You don't know her. She
is very angry. Please 60 will bring
her downstairs somehow"
-Ah. indeed, Jane Bolingbroke," came
from the bed. Il will receive my
guests myself when they are kind
enough TO come TO my room" The COW
erlid began TO move. and whether or
not she was really going to carry out
her threat l cannot say. but Henry,
knowing her too well to risk 1t. hurried
US all ont OF the room and marched
downstairs at the head of his defeated
cohorts. He was swearing in a way
to make priests flesh creep and pro
testing by everything holy that Mary
should be the wife Of Louis or die. He
went back to Mary's room at intervals-
but there was enough persistence in
that one girl to stop the wheels of time.
II she but set herself to do it and the
king came away from each visit the
victim of another rout
Finally his anger cooled. and he be-
came amused From the last visit he
came down laughing.
II shall have to give up the fight or
else put my armor on with visor down."
said he 1T ia not safe to go nesr her
without it She is 4 very vixen. and
but now tried to scratch my eyes out"
wolsey, who had a wonderful knack
for finding the easiest means to diff
ncult end, took Henry OF to q window,
where they held q whispered converse
ten.
II was pathetic to see a mighty king
and his great minister Of state consult
ing and planning against one poor girl
and. rs angry as felt toward Mary.
could not help pitying her and admired
beyond the power of pen to write the
valiant and 30 far impregnable defense
she had put up against an array Of
strength that would have made q king
tremble on his throne.
Presently Henry gave one of bis
loud laughs and slapped bis thigh as
n highly satisfied with some PROPOSE
ton Of wolsey's
make ready at once he said. I'VE
will 60 back to London"
In a short time we were all at the
main stairway ready to mount for the
return trip.
The Lady Mary's window was just
above, and saw Jane watching US as
We rode away.
After we were well out of Mary's
sight the king called me to him. and he.
together with De Longueville. Wolsey
and myself. turned our horses heads.
rode >s~tdly by a circuitous path back
to anoth-r door of the castle ana re
entered without the knowledge OF any
Of the inmates.
We four remained in silence. en-
Joined by the king. and in the course
of an hour the princess. supposing ev-
cry one had gone. came downstairs and
walked into the room where we were
waiting.
1t was a scurvy trick. and | felt
contempt for the men who had planned
II. could see that Mary's tirs, i'm
pulse was to beat a hasty retreat back
into her citadel, the bed. but In truth
she had In her makeup very little dis
position to retreat She was clear grit.
What a man she would have made.
But what crime It would have been
In nature to have spoiled 80 perfect
woman. How beautiful she was, She
threw one quick. surprised glance at
her brother and his companions and.
hitting mp her exquisite head. careless
" hummed little tune under her
breath as she marched TO the other end
OF the room with gait that Juno her