Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-18

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, very good vocab- ulary in it's way, and very good way, too, for that matter.
 Once he said something to her in a low voice, which brought flush to her cheeks and caused her to glance quick answer came they were nearer us, and heard her say: "I 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 smile and fash 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 eyes, sank into a chair, exclaiming: 'The new dance is delightful, Jane. It is like flying, your partner helps you SO. But what would the king say-and the queen? She would simply swoon with horror. It is delightful, though" Then, with more confusion in her manner than I had ever before seen, ''That is, 1t is delightful if one chooses her part. ner."
 This only made matters worse and gave Brandon an opportunity. "Dare I hope?' he asked, with def erential bow.
 "Oh, yes; you may hope. I tell you frankly it was delightful with you. Now, are you satisfied, my modest one? Jane, I see we have forward body here. No telling what he will be at next,'' said Mary, with evident impa- tience, rapidly swaying her fan. She spoke almost sharply, for Brandon's attitude was more that of an equal than she WAS accustomed to, and her royal dignity, which was the artificial part of her, rebelled against it now and then in spite of her real inclinations. The habit of receiving only adulation and living on a pinnacle above every body else was so strong from continued practice that 1t appealed to her as duty to maintain that elevation. She had never before been called upon to exert herself in that direction, and the situation was new. The servile ones with whom she usually associated maintained it for her; so she now felt, whenever she thought of it, that she was in duty bound to chamber back, at least part of the way, to her dignity, however pleasant it was personally down below in the denser atmosphere of informality.
 In her heart the princess preferred, upon proper occasions, such as this, to abate her dignity, and often requested others to dispense with ceremony, as in fact she had done with us earlier in the evening. But Brandon's easy manner, although perfectly respectful and ele- gantly polite, was very different from anything she had ever known. She enjoyed it, but every now and then the sense of her importance and dignity for you must remember she was the first princess of the blood royal--would supersede even her love of enjoyment, and the girl went down and the prin- cess came up. Besides, she half feared that Brandon was amusing himself at her expense, and that in fact this was a new sort of masculine worm. Really she sometimes doubted if it were a worm at all, and did not know what to expect nor what she ought to do.
 She was far more girl than princess, and would have preferred to remain merely girl and let events take the course they were going, for she liked 1t. But there was the other part of her which was princess, and which, kept saying, Remember who you are," 80 she was plainly at a loss between natural and artificial inclinations con- tending unconsciously within her.
 Replying to Nfary's remark over Jane's shoulder, Brandon said:
 Your highness asked us to lay aside ceremony for the evening, and if have offended can but make for my excuse my desire to please you. Be sure I shall offend no more" This was said 50 seriously that his meaning could not be misunderstood. He did not care whether he pleased so capricious per son or not.
 Mary made no reply, and it looked as if Brandon had the worst of it.
 We sat few minutes talking, Mary wearing an air of dignity. Cards were proposed, and as the game progressed she gradually unbent again and be- came affable and familiar as earlier in the evening. Brandon, however, was frozen. He was polite, dignified and deferential to the ladies, but the spirit of the evening was gone since he had furnished it all with his free, offhand manner, full of life and brightness.
 After short time, Mary's warming mood failing to thaw our frozen fun maker, and in her heart infinitely pre- ferring pleasure to dignity, she said: 'Oh, this is wearisome! Your game is far less entertaining than your new dance. Do something to make me laugh, Master Brandon"
 T fear you must call in Will Som- mers," he replied, If you wish to laugh. I cannot please you in both ways, so will hold to the one which seems to suit the princess"