Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-06-24

QumOr toward Brandon as SCll re-
manned were frightened off in a hurry
by the fear that she had seen the last
Of him.
She had not before fully known that
she loved him. She knew he was the
most delightful companion she had
ever met and that there was an. ex-
hilaration about his presence which al
most intoxicated her and made life an
ecstasy, yet she did not know it was
love. It needed but the thought that
she was about to lose him to make her
know her malady and meet it face to
face.
Upon the evening when Mary learn
ed all this she went into her chamber
very early and closed the door. No
one interrupted her until Jane went in
to robe her for the night and to retire.
She then found that Mary had robed
herself and was lying in bed with her
head covered, apparently asleep. Jane
quietly prepared to retire and lay
down in her own bed. The girls usual
~ shared one couch. but during Mary's
i'll temper she had forced Jane to sleep
alone.
After a short silence Jane heard q
sob from the other bed, then another
and another.
''Mary, are you weeping?'' she asked.
Eyes,
"What is the matter, dearr'
Nothing" with sigh.
do you wish me to come to your
bed?"
Eyes, do" So Jane went over and
lay beside Mary, who gently put her
arms about her neck.
"When will he leave?" whispered
Mary, shyly confessing all by her ques-
ton.
Il do not know" responded Jane,
'but he will see you before he goes"
"Do you believe he will?"
II know it." And with this consola-
ton Mary softly wept herself to sleep.
After this, for few days, Mary was
quiet enough. Her irritable mood had
vanished, but Jane could see that she
was on the lookout for some one all
the time, although she made the most
pathetic little efforts to conceal her
watchfulness.
At last meeting came. about in this
way: Next to the kings bedchamber
was luxuriously furnished little
apartment with we'll selected library.
Here Brandon and often went after
Moons to read, as we were sure to be
undisturbed.
Late one day Brandon had gone over
to this quiet retreat and, having select
ed volume, took his place in seclud,
ed little alcove half hidden in arras
draperies. There was cushioned seat
along the wall and a small diamond
shaped window to furnish light
He had not been there long when in
came Mary. l cannot say whether she
knew Brandon was there or not, but
she was there and he was there, which
is the only thing to the point, and, find
ing him, she stepped into the alcove be-
fore he was aware of her presence.
Brandon was on his feet in an in
slant and with low bow was back
ing himself out most deferentially to
leave her in sole possession, If she
wished to rest.
master Brandon, you need not go.
will not hurt you. Besides, If this
place is not large enough for Us both,
will go. I would not disturb you"
She spoke with a tremulous voice and
a quick, uneasy glance, and started to
move backward out of the alcove.
LADY Mary, how can you speak so?
You know-you must know-oh, I beg
YOU But she interrupted him by
taking his arm and drawing him to a
seat beside her on the cushion. She
could have drawn down the Colossus
Of Rhodes with the look she gave Bran
don, SO full was it Of command, en-
treaty and promise.
'"That's it. don't know, but I want
to know, and I want you to sit here be-
side me and tell me. am going to be
reconciled with you despite the way
you treated me when last we met. I
am going to be friends with you wheth-
er you will or not. Now what do you
say to that, STRIP She spoke with a
huttering little laugh of uneasy nom
assurance. which showed that her
heart was not nearly so confident nor
80 bold as her words would make be-
heve. Poor Brandon, usually SO ready,
had nothing Ito say to that" but.sat
in helpless silence.
Was this the sum total of all his
wise determinati made at the cost
Of so much pain and effort? Was this
the answer to all his prayer, LEAD
me not into temptationT' He had done
his part, for he had done all he could.
Heaven had not helped him, since here
was temptation thrust upon him when
least expected and when the way was
90 narrow he could not escape, but
must meet it face to face.
Mary soon recovered her self posses
s1on-Women are better skilled in this
art than men-and continued: i.
II am not intending to say one word
about your treatment of me that day
over In the forest, although it was very
bad and you have acted abominably
ever since. Now is not that kind in
me p And she softly laughed as she