Cañon City record., 1903-12-10
When Knighth00d WasIn Flower

1
near the girls. and Brandon. without
any apparent intention one way or the
other. allowed events TO adjust them
selves and rode with Cavendish and
me.
We were perhaps forty yards behind
the girls. ard ! noticed after time
that the Lady Mary kept looking back.
ward In our direction. as IL fearing rain
from the east. was In hopes that
Jane. too. would fear the rain. but you
would have sworn her neck was stifY
so straight ahead did she keep her face
We had ridden perhaps three leagues
when the princess stopped her horse
and turned la her saddle. I heard her
voice. but did not understand what she
said.
In II moment some one called out
Master Brandon is wantedT' So that
gentleman rode forward. and ] fol-
lowed him. When we came up with
the girls. Mary said. II fear my girth
is loose
Brandon at once dismounted to tight
en- IL. and the others of our immediate
party began TO cluster around.
Brandon tried the girth.
My lady. 1t is as tight as the horse
can well bear" he said.
1T is loose. | say" insisted the prin-
cess. with little irritation. The sad
die feels like II. Try the other" Then
turning impatiently to the persons
gathered around: Does II require all
OF you. sta nding there like gaping
pumpkins. to tighten my girthi Ride
on We can manage this without 80
much help" Upon this broad hint ev-
errbody rode ahead while held the
horse for Brandon. who went on with
his search for the loose girth. While
he was looking for II Mary leaned over
her horses neck and asked: Were you
and Cavendish settling all the philo-
sophical points now In dispute that
you found him 30 Interestingly
Not ALL" answered Brandon, nmil.
ing.
You were 20 absorbed | supposed II
could be nothing short of that
NO" replied Brandon again. But
the rirth is not loose
Perhaps only imagined it" re-
turned Mary carelessly. having lost
interest In the cirth.
looked toward Jane. whose eyes
were bright with smile. and turned
Brandon's horse over to him. James
smile gradually brondened into laugh
and she said Edwin. fear my girth
is loose also
".As the Lady Mary's wnsT' asked l.
unable to keep q straight face any
t,ngcr.
"Yes." answered. Jane, with q vigof.
Gus little nod Of her head and u peal OF
laughter.
Then drop back with me-" re-
sponded.
The princess looked at us with half
smlle. half frown. and remarked. Nov
you souv.sess consider yourselves very
brilliant and witty"
Yes returned Jane maliciously.
noddIng her head in emphatic assent.
before us.
Jane soto yoce to me.
$50 you want me to ride with your
replied.
yes" nodded Jane.
"why?' asked.
Because want you to-" was the
eniightening response.
'Then why did you not dance with
me the other eveningr'
''Recarse did not want to-"
short. but comprehensive" thought
1, but sufficient reason for a maid
en-
said nothing. however. and after u
time Jane sroke; THE dance was one
thing and riding with you Is another.
I did not wish TO dance with you, but
do wish to de with you. You are the
only gentler an to whom I would have
said what did about my girth being
loose. As TO the new dance, do not
care to learn II. because I would not
dance II with any man but you. and
not even with you-yet." This made
me glad. and coming from coy, modest
Jane meant n great deal. 1t meant
that she cared for NE and would some
day be mine. but It also meant that she
would take her own time and her own
sweet way In being won. This was
comforting. II not satisfying. and loos-
ened my tongue. "Jane. you know my
heart Is full OF love for you
"will the universe crumbley' she
cried. with the most provoking little
laugh. Now, that sentence was my
rock ahead whenever I tried to give
Jane some idea Of the state OF my nf
fcctions. II was part Of the speech
which ! had prepared and delivered to
Mary in Jarc's bearing. as you already
know. had said to the princess, THE
universe will crumble and the heavens
roll up as n scroll ere my love shall al
ter or pale" II was high soundiI-
sentence, but II was not true, as wa
forced to admit. almost with the same
breath that spoke It Jane had hcarl
It and had stored It away in that mem
ory of hers, so tenacious In holding TO