Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-04-17
Continued from last week.
CHAPTER IN.

"a N
ksss<ss-.s.sa so fond were the Frenchmen
60 of our fair ladies, and | was
more than anxious to see Brandon and
learn the issue of the girls escapade,
as-I well knew the danger attending it.
All things, however, must end, so
early in the morning l fastened to our
rooms, where l found Brandon lying
in his clothes, everything saturated
with blood from dozen sword cuts. He
was very weak, and | at once bad in
barber, who took off his shirt of mail
and dressed his wounds. He then
dropped into deep sleep, while |
watched the night out. Upon awaken
ing Brandon told me all that had hap
pened, but asked rue to say nothing of
his illness, as he wished to keep the
fact of his wounds secret in order that
he might better conceal the cause of
them. But. as | told you. he did not
speak of Buckingham's part in the af-
fray.
| saw the princess that afternoon and
expected. of course, she would inquire
for her defender One who had given
such timely help and who was suffer
ing so much on her account was sure
ly worth a little solicitudc, but not
word did she ask She did not come
near me, but made a point of avoid
ance, as | could plainly see. The next
morning she. with Jane, went over to
Scotland palace without so much as
breath Of inquiry from either of them.
This heartlesS conduct enraged me, but
| was glad to learn aftcrward that
James silence was ut Mary's COM
mand. that bundle of sclishncss fear
ing that any solicitude, however care
fully shown. upon her part might re
veal her secret
1t seems that Mary had recent intel
ligence of the forward state of affairs
in the marriage negotiations and felt
that discovery by her brother of what
she had done. especially in view of the
disastrous results, would send her to
France despite all the coaXing she
could do from then till doomSday
1t was terrible fate hanging over
her. doubly so in view of the fact that
she loved another man, and looking
back at it all from the vantage point
of time cannot wonder that it drove
other things out of her head and made
her seem selfish in her frightened de-
sire to save herself.
About II o'clock of the following
night | was awakened by n knock at
my door, and upon opening in walked
a sergeant of the sheriff of London,
with four ycomcn at his heels.
The sergeant asked if one Charles
Brandon was present, and upon my af-
frmatlve answer demanded that he be
forthcoming. l told the sergeant that
Brandon was confined to his bed with
illness, whereupon he asked to be
shown to his room.
1t was useless to resist or to evade,
so | awakened Brandon and took the
sergeant in. Here he read his warrant
to arrest Charles Brandon, Esq. for
the murder of two citizens of London,
perpetrated, done and committed upon
the night of such and such q day of
this year of our Lord 1914. Brandons
hat had been found by the side of the
dead men. and the authorities had re-
ceved information from n high source
that Brandon was the guilty person
That high source was evidently Buck
ingham.
When the sergeant found Brandon
covered with wounds, there was nc
longer any doubt, and, although hard
" able to lift his hand, he was forced
to dress and go with them. y horse
litter was procured, and we all started
to London.
While Brandon was dressing | saiC
| would at once go and awaken the
king, who, | knew. would pardon tn,
offense when he heard my story, bu
Brandon asked the sergeant To leav,
us to ourselves for a short time. ant
closed the door.
"Please do nothing of the sort, Cas-
koden." said he. IF you tell the king
| will declare there is not one word o
truth in your story. There is only on
person in the world who may tell o
that nights happenings. and if sh
does not they shall remain untold. Sh
will make it all right at once, | know
l would not do her the foul wrong t
think for one instant that she will fail
You do not know her. She sometime
seems selfish, but it is thoughtlessnes
fostered by fiattery, and her heart
right. | would trust her with my life
If you breathe word Of what | hav
told you. you may do more harm tina
you can ever remedy, and ask you I
say nothing to any one. If the princes
would not liberate me-but that is nc
to be thought of. Never doubt tina
she can and will do it better than yo
think. She is all gold"
This, of course, sienced me, as di
not know what new danger | Nigh
create or how | might mar the matte
/ so much wished TO mend. | did nc
tell Brandon that the girls had LEI
| Greenwich or of my underlined and pc
| haps unfoLAded fear that Mary migl
| not act as lie thought she would in
great emergency, but silently helpe
him to dress and went to London alon
| with him and the sleriff's sergeant