Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-06-08


To prevent this two guardsmen with
halberds were stationed at the door.
Modesty. | might say, neither thrives
nor is useful at court
When Brandon presented himself at
the door. his entrance was barred. but
he quickly pushed aside the halberds
and entered. The Duke of Bucking-
ham. proud. self important individu-
! al. was standing near the door and
saw it all. Now. Buckingham was
one Of those unfortunate persons who
never lose an opportunity to make a
mistake. and. being anxious to display
his zeal on behalf of the princess, step
ped up to prevent Brandon's entrance.
''Sir, you will have to move out Of
this" he said pompously. You are
not at jousting bout. You have made
} mistake and have come to the wrong
! place."
'My lord Of Buckingham is pleased
to make rather more of an ass of him
self than usual this evening" replied
Brandon, with q smile. as he started
across the room to Mary, whose eye
he had caught. She had seen and heard
it all. but instead Of coming to his re-
! lief stood there laughing to herself.
At this Buckingham grew furious and
ran around ahead of Brandon. valiant
| ~ drawing his sword.
| Now. by heaven. fellow. make but an
other step, and will run you through
he said.
| I saw it all. but could hardly realize
what was going on, it came so quickly
and was over so soon. Like a fash
Brandon's sword was out of it's sheath
i and Buckingham's blade was flying to-
ward the ceiling. Brandon's sword
was sheathed again so quickly that one
could hardly believe it had been out
at all, and. picking up Buckingham's.
he said with O half smothered laugh,
my lord has dropped his sword"
He then broke its point with his heel
against the hard floor, saying. Il will
dull the point lest my lord. being unac-
customed to its Cse. wound himself"
This brought peals OF laughter from
everybody. including the king. Mary
laughed also, but. az Brandon was
handing Buckingham his blade, came
up and demanded:
My lord. is this the way you take it
upon yourself to receive my guests?
Who appointed you. let me ask, to
guard my door? We shall have to omit
your name from our next list unless
you take a few lessons in good man
ners." This was striking him hard.
and the quality of the man will at once
appear plain to you when | say that
he had often received worse treatment,
but chung to the girls skirts all the
more tenaciously. Turning to Brandon,
the princess said:
Master Brandon, l am glad to see
you, and regret exceedingly that our
friend of Buckingham should so thirst
for your blood" She then led him to
the king and queen to whom he made
his bow, and the pair continued their
walk about the room. Mary again al
luded to the skirmish at the door and
said laughingly:
u would have come to your help, but
1 knew you were amply able to take
care OF yourself. l was sure you would
worst the duke in some way. 1t was
better than mummery, and l was glad
to see it. l do not like him.
The king did not open these private
balls, as he was supposed at least not
to be their patron, and the queen, who
was considerably older than Henry,
was averse to such things. So the prin-
cess opened her own balls, dancing for
few minutes. with the floor entirely
to herself and partner. 1t was the hon.
or of the evening to open the ball with
her, and quite curious to see how men
put themselves in her way and stood
so as to be easily observed and, per-
chance, chosen. Brandon after leaving
Mary had drifted into a corner of the
! room back Of a group Of people and
was talking to Wolsey-who was al
ways very friendly to him-and to Mas
ter Cavendish, quaint, quiet, easy lit
tie man, full of learning and kindness,
and a warm friend to the Princess
Mary.
1t was time to open the ball, and
from my place in the musicians gal
lery could see Mary moving about
among the guests, evidently looking for
a partner, while the men resorted to
some very transparent and amusing
expedients to attract her attention The
princess, however, took none Of the
bidders, and soon, noticed, she espied
Brandon standing in the corner with
his back toward her.
Something told me she was going to
ask him to open the dance, and 1 re-
GREETED it, because l knew it would set
every nobleman in the house against
him, they being very jealous of the
"lowborn favorites," as they called the
untitled friends Of royalty. Sure
enough, was right. Mary at once be-
gan to make her way over to the cor
ner. and heard her say, Master Bran
don, will you dance with meY'
1t was done prettily. The whole girl
changed as soon as she found herself in
front Of him. In place of the old time
-