The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-05-20

| Van1SDeu, out Jane COulu see tnaC 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 a meeting came abOutsin this
| way: Next TO the kings bedchamber
was a l~uxuGiously furnished little
apartment with q we'll selected library.
Here Brandon and I 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
sd Il volume, took his place in n seclud-
ed little alcoye half hidden in arras
draperies. There was a cushioned seat
along the wall and a small diamond
shaped window to furnish Light.
BE had not been there long when In
came Mary. I 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 ON In
slant and with n low bow was back
ing himself out most d~eferentially to
leave her in sole possession, IL she
wished to rest.
master Brandon, you need NOT go.
I will not hurt you. Besides, II this
place is not large enough for us both,
I Will go. 1 would not disturb you"
She spoke with n tremulous voice and
u quick, uneasy glance, and started to
move backward out Of the alcove.
Lady Mary, how can you speak 80?
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 dawn down the Colossus
of Rhodes with the look she gave Bran
don, 30 full was 1t Of command, ell
treaty and promise.
THAT'S 1t. I don't know. but I want
to know, and I want you to sit here be-
side me and tell me. I am going TO BIO
r%econciled with you despite the way
| you treated me when last we met. 1
am going to be friends with you wheth-
er o will or not. Now what do you
say to that, sir?" She spoke with q
tiuttering little laugh Of uneasy noh-
assurance, which showed that her
heart was not nearly 80 confident nor
80 bold as her words would make be-
! lieve. Poor Brandon, usually 30 ready,
had nothing ITO say to that" but sat
fffyhelpless silence.
WAS this the sum total Of all his
wise determinations made at the cost
the answer to all his prayer dead
! me not into temptations" BE 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
80 narrow he could not escape, but
must meet 1t face to face.
Mary o recovered her self posses
sion-women are better skilled in this
art than men--and continued;
II am not intending to say one word
about your treatment of me that day
over IN the forest, although 1T was very
bad and you have acted abominably
ever since. Now Is not that kind in
me?" And she softly laughed rs she
peeped up mt the poor fellow from be-
meath those sweeping lashes, with the
p~remeditated purpose Of tantalizing
him, 1 suppose. She was beginning to
know her power Over him, and 1t was
never greater than at this moment
Her beauty md its sweetest quality,
for the princess was sunk and the
woman was dominant, with flushed
face and flashing eyes that caught a
double luster from the glowing love
that made her heart beat so fast.
With the mood that was upon her 1
wonder Brandon paintafned his self
restraint even for n moment. He felt
that his onlyehope lay In silence, 80 he
sat beside hef and said nothing. He
told m long afterward hat while sit
ting there In the intervals between her
speech. the oldest, widest thoughts ran
through his brain. He wondered how
he could escape. He thought of the
window and that possibly he might
break away through 1t, and then he
thought OF feigning illness, and n hun
dred other absurd schemes, but they
all came to nothing, and he sat there
to let events take their own course, rs
they seemed determined to do liz spite
OF him.
After a short silence Mary continued
half b~nnteringly: Answer me, sir! 1
will have no more Of this. You shall
treat mt at least with the courtesy you
would show a bourgeoise girl"
"Oh, that you were only n burgher's
daughter"
Eyes, 1 know all that; but / an not.
1t can't be helped, and you shall an
swer me-"
"There ia no answer, dear lady. I
beg you-oh, do you not see"-
Yes, yes; but answe my question.
Am I not kind, more than you de-
server"
Indeed. yes; a thousand times. You
hove always been SO kind, so gracious
and so condescending to me that I al
only thank You, thank you, thank you,"
answered Brandon almost shyiy, not
daring to lift his eyes to hers.
Mary saw the name quickly enough
what woman ever missed 1t, much
less so keen eyed a girl as she-and 1t
gave her confidence and brought back
the easy banter Of her old time man
ner.
GLOW modest we have become!
Where is the holiness of, which we
used to have so much2 Kind? Have
I always been sol How about the first
time / met your Was I kind then?
And as to condescenslon, d~on't-don't
use that word between u.s."
"No," returned Brandon, who in his
turn was recovering himself; mo, 1
oanSf CIV khot xnt xuapo x,aru Lind nf