Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-05-29

, Sne smiled at my persistency an
I took me by the hand, saying, "Come!
! We at once went of to find the kim
but the smile had faded from Mary
] face, and she looked as II she were g
/ ing to execution. Every shade Of colo
had fed, and her lips were the hue q
ashes.
We found the king in the midst Q
| his council, with the French ambassa
, doris, discussing the all absorbing topi
Of the marriage treaty, and Henry
. fearing an outbreak, refused to Sc
the princess As usual, opposition blu
spurred her determination, SO she 50
down In the anteroom and said sh
would not stir until she had seen tn
king.
After we had waited few minutes
one Of the kings pages came up ant
said he had been looking all over thu
palace for me and that the king desiret
my presence Immediately. l went Ii
with the page to the king, leaving
Mary alone and very melancholy iI
the antechamber.
Upon entering the kings presence he
asked: "Where have you been, Sir Ed
win? have almost killed a good halt
dozen pages hunting you. I want you
to prepare Immediately to 60 to Paris
with an embassy to his majesty King
Louis. You will be the interpreter.
The ambassador you need not know.
Make ready at once. The embassy
will leave London from the Tabard inn
one hour hence"
| Could command to duty have come
at a more inopportune time? was
distracted, and upon leaving the king
went at once to seek the Lady Mary
where had left her in the anteroom.
She had gone, so went to her apart
ments, but could not find her. went
to the queens salon, but she was not
there, and traversed that old ram
bling palace from one end to the other
without finding her or Lady Jane.
The king had told me the embassy
would be secret one and that was
to speak Of it to nobody. least of all to
the Lady Mary. No one was to know
that was leaving England, and was
to communicate with no one at home
while In France
The kings command was not to be
disobeyed. To do SO would be as much
as my life was worth; but, besides that,
the command of the king served was
my highest duty, and no Caskoden ever
failed in that. may not be as tall as
some men, but my fidelity and honor
but you will say boast.
was to make ready my bundle and
ride six miles to London in one hour.
and almost half that time was spent
already. l was sure to be late. SO |
could not waste another minute.
l went to my room and got together
a few things necessary for my journey.
but did not take much In the way Of
clothing, preferring to buy that new
in Paris, where l could find the latest
styles in pattern and fabric.
l tried to assure myself that Mary |
would see the king at once and tell him
all and not allow my dear friend Bran
don to lie in that terrible place another
night, yet a persistent fear gnawed at
my heart, and sort of intuition that
seemed to have the very breath Of GER
tainty in its foreboding made me doubt
her.
As l could find neither Mary nor
Jane, l did the next best thing-l
wrote a letter to each of them, urging
Immediate action and left them to be
delivered by my man Thomas. who
was one of those trusty souls that new
er fail. l did not tell the girls was
about to start for France but intimat-
I'd that l was compelled to leave Lon
Ion for time and said, Il leave the
late of this man, to whom we all owe
70 much, in your hands, knowing full
we'll how tender you will be Of him."
I was away from home nearly a
month, and as l dared not write, and
wen Jane did not know where l was,
did not receive nor expect any let
ers. The king had ordered secrecy,
md II l have mingled with all my
aults a single virtue it is that of
Jews from England and sent none
lome
During all that time the same old
ear lived in my heart that Mary
night fail to liberate Brandon. She
new of the negotiations concerning
be French marriage, as we all did, al
hough only by an indefinite sort of
earsay, and was sure the half found
d rumors that had reached her ears
ad long since become certainties and
hat her heart was full of trouble and Z
ear Of her violent brother. She would
ertainly be at her coaxing and whee-
ling again and on her best behavior,
nd l feared she might refrain from 6
cling Henry Of her trip to Grouche's, !
moving how severe he was in such /
latters and how furious he was sure Il
, become at the discovery. | was GER 1
lin it was this fear which had pre- u
ented Mary from going directly to
ON Scotland palace, and l knew that v
ar eating. bathing and dressing were Ii
ut an excuse for a breathing spell be- n
re the dreaded interview. o
This fear remained with me all the v
me was away, but when l reasoned e.
18th myself l would smother it as well 81
, could with argumentative attempts d.
self assurance. l would say over
nd over to myself that Mary could Oh
1T fail arI that even If she did there d.
as Janes1ear. sweet. thoughtful, I'M &c
lfish Jane!-who would not allow her W
do SO. But, as far as they go, our m