Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-20
CHAPTER VI.
A RARE RIDE TO WINDSOR.

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 brother. A man would re- RsSsSsSSs ceive quicker reward for in kAE&S2D venting an amusement or gaudy cost6lne for the king than by winning him battle. Later in life the highroad to his favor was in ridding him of his wife and helping him to a new one, a dangerous way, though, as Wolsey found, to his sorrow, when he sank his glory in poor Anne Boleyn.
 Brandon took the hint and managed to let it be known to his play loving king that he knew the latest French games. The French Due de Longue- vile had for some time been an honor ed prisoner at the English court, held as hostage from Louis XII, but De Longueville was a blockhead, who could not keep his little black eyes off our fair ladies, who hated him, long enough to tell the deuce of spades from the ace of hearts. So Brandon was taken from his duties, such as they were, and placed at the card table. This was fortunate at first, for, being the best player, the king always chose him as his partner, and, as in every other game, the king always won. If he lost, there would soon be no game, and the man who won from him too frequently was in danger at any mo- ment of being rated guilty of the very highest sort of treason. think many a mans fall under Henry VIII. was owing to the fact that he did not all ways allow the king to win in some trivial matter of game or joust. Under these conditions everybody was anx- ious to be the kings partner. It is true he frequently forgot to divide his win nings, but his partner had this advan- tage at least-there was no danger of losing. That being the case, Brandon's seat opposite the king was very likely to excite envy, and the time soon came, Henry having learned the play, when Brandon had to face some one else, and the seat was too costly for a man with out treasury. It took but few days to put Brandon hors de combat finan- cially, and he would have been in a bad plight had not Wolsey come to his relief. After that he played and paid the king in his own coin.
 This great game of shonor and ruff'' occupied Henry's mind day and night during a fortnight He feasted upon 1t to satiety, as he did with everything else, never having learned not to cloy his appetite by overlooking. So we saw little of Brandon while the kings fever lasted, and Mary said she wished she had remained silent about the cards. You see, she could enjoy this new plaything as we'll as her brother, but the king, of course, must be satis- fled first. They both had enough even- tually, Henry in one way, Mary in an other.
 One day the fancy struck the king that he would rebuild a certain chapel at Windsor, so he took number of the court, including Mary, Jane, Brandon and myself, and went with us up to London, where we lodged over night at Bridewell House. The next morning as bright and beautiful June day as ever gladdened the heart of rose-we took horse for Windsor, a delightful seven league ride over a fair road.
 Mary and Jane travelled side by side, with an occasional companion or two, as the road permitted. I was angry with Jane, as you know, so did not go 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, and noticed after time that the Lady Mary kept looking back ward in our direction, as if fearing rain from the east. I was in hopes that Jane, too, would fear the rain, but you would have sworn her neck was stiff, so straight ahead did she keep her face. We had ridden perhaps three leagues when the princess stopped her horse and turned in her saddle. I heard her voice, but did not understand what she said.
 In a moment some one called out, ''Master Brandon is wantedv' So that gentleman rode forward, and I fol- lowed him. When we came up with the girls, Mary said, 'I fear my girth is loose"
 Brandon at once dismounted to tight en it, and the others of our immediate party began to cluster around.
 Brandon tried the girth.
 My lady. it is as tight as the horse can well bear" he said
 Ut is loose, say,'' insisted the prin- cess, with a little irritation. ''rhe sad dle feels like it. Try the other'' Then, turning impaiently to the persons gathered around: "Does it require all of you, standing there like gaping pumpkins, to tighten my girth? Ride on. We can manage this without so much help." Upon this broad hint ev- erybody rode ahead while held the horse for Brandon, who went on with his search for the loose girth. While he was looking for it 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 so interesting?"
 "Not all," answered Brandon, smil- ing.
 You were so absorbed I supposed it could be nothing short of that"
 Mo-. replied Brandon again. "But the girth is not loose"
 Perhaps I only imagined it,a re- turned Mary carnleSSIy having lost