The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-11-13

turn called Francis "Ce Gros Garcon,"
and Queen Mary called rim Monsieur,
mon beau fils," I'm a mock motherly
manner that was very laughable. A
mother OF eighteen to a good boy" Of
twenty-two! Dangerous Relationship!
And dangerous indeed 1t would haye
been for Mary had she not been a.
pure ana true as she was willful ana
impetuous. "Aion beau fils' allowed
neither his wife nor the respect he
owed the king to stand In the way Of
his very marked attention to the queen.
His position as heir and his long tesi-
dence Mt court, almost as son to Louis,
gave him ample opportunities for press
Ing his unseemly suit. He was tho
first to see Mary at the meeting place
this side Of Abbeville, and was the
kings representative on all occasions.
Beau fils" was rather n handsome
fellow, but thought himself vastly
handsomer than he was, and had some
talents. which he was likewise careful
to estimate at their full value, to say
the least. He was very well liked by
women, and in turn considered himself
irresistible. He was very impression
able to feminine charms, was ut heart
tbertine, and, as he grew older, be-
came debauchee whose memory win
taint France for centuries to come.
Mary saw his weakness more clearly
than his wiclsedness, being blinded to
the latter by the veil Of her own inno-
cence. She laughed at and with him,
and permitted herself n great deal Ut
his company-so much, in fact, that
grew little jealous for Brandcn's
sake, and, II the truth must be told, for
the first time began to have doubts of
her. ~ seriously feared that when
Louis should die Brandon might fpd
much more dangerous rival In the
new king, who, although married,
would probably try to keep Mary at
his court even should he be driven to
the extreme OF divorcing Claude rs
Claude's father had divorced Joan.
I believed, In case Mary should vol
unfairly prove false and remain in
France either as the wife or the mis-
tress of Francis, that Brandon would
quietly but surely contrive some means
to take her life, and hoped he wouId.
spoke to my wife, Jane, about the
queens conduct, and she finally admit
ted that she did not like 1t, SO I, unable
to remain silent any longer, determined
to put Mary on her guard, and for that
purpose spoke very freely to her on the
subject.
"Oh, you g0ose" she said laughingly.
"He is almost as great fool us Hen
Ty." Then the tears came to her eyes,
and half angrily, half Historically,
shaking me by the arm, she continued;
"D0 you not know? Can you not see
that would give this hand or my eyes,
almost my life, just to fall upon my
face I'm front of Charles Brandon at
this moment? Do you not know that
n woman with love I'm her heart such
as have for him Is safe from every
one and everything; that II is her sheet
anchor, sure and fast? Have you not
wit enough to know thatT
"fes, have" responded, for the
time completely silenced. With her fa-
vorfte tactics she had, as usual, put me
In the wrong. though soon canc
again to the attack.
But he Is 80 base that grieye to
zee you with him."
2 II suppose he Is not very good she
Responded, "but It seems TO be the way
Of these people among whom I have
fallen, and he cannot harm me-"
"Oh, but he cant One does not go
near smallpox, and there Is q moral
contagion quite as dangerous, II not 90
perceptible, and equally to be avoid
cd. 1t must be wonderfully healthy
moral nature, pure and chaste to the
core, that will be entirely contagion
proof and safe from It."
She hung her head In thought and
then lifted her eyes appeaiingly to me.
Am not that, Edwin7 Tell mel, Tell
me frankly; am not7 1t is the one
thing OF good I have always striven
for. am so full OF other faults that if
j have not that there Is no good In
hie.rs Her eyes ana voice were full Of
tears, and knew In my heart that
stood before as pure a soul as ever
came from the hand Of God.
'You are. your majesty; never
doubt" answered. @It is pre-ems-
pentIys the one thing In womanhood to
which all mankind kneels." And fell
upon my knee and kissed her hand
with sense Of reverence, faith and
trust that has never left me from that
day to this As to my estimate Of how
Frnncis wouid act when Louis should
die, you VIII see that was right.
). Not long after this Lady Caskoden
and were given permission to return
TO England, and immediately prepared
for our ilomeward journey.