Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-12-29
CHAPTER VII-CoNTINUED.

CHAPTER VII-CoNTINUED.
After a short silence Jane heard q
sob from the other bed, then another
and another.
"Mary. are you weeping?" she asked.
EYES,"
"What is the matter, dearT'
Nothing" with sigh.
"Do you wish me to come to your
bed?"
Eyes, l do" So Jane went over and
lay beside Mary. who gently put her
arms about her neck.
"When will he leavew whispered
Mary. shyly confessing all by her ques-
ton.
81 do not know" responded Jane,
"but he will see you before he goes"
"Do you believe he will?"
81 know it." And with this consola-
tion Mary softly wept herself to sleep.
After this, for a few days, Mary was
quiet enough. Her irritable mood had
vanished, but Jane could see that 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 about In this
way: Next to the kings bedchamber
was a luxuriously furnished little
apartment with well selected library.
Here Brandon and 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
ed volume, took his place In seclud-
ed little alcove half hidden In arras
draperies. There was cushioned seat
along the wall and a small diamond
shaped window to furnish light.
He had not been there long when In
came Mary. cannot say whether she
knew Brandon was there or not, but
she p1as 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 an In
slant and with low bow was back
ing himself out most deferentially to
leave her in sole possession, II she
wished to rest.
tMaster Brandon, you need not 60.
I will not hurt you. Besides, If this
place Is rot large enough for US both,
will 20. fSwould not disturb you"
She spoke with a tremulous voice and
a quick, uneasy glance, and started to
move backward out Of the alcove.
LADY Mary, how can you speak 30?
You know-you must know-oh, beg
you But she interrupted him by
taking his arm and drawing him to q
seat beside her on the cushion. She
could have drawn down the Colossus
Of Rhodes with the look she gave Bran
don, so full was it Of command, en-
treaty and promise.
That's it. don't know, but want
to know. and want you to sit here be-
side me and tell me. am going to be
reconciled with you despite the way
you treated me when last we met. l
am going to be friends with you wheth-
er you will or not. Now what do you
say to that, sir?" She spoke with a
fiuttering little laugh Of uneasy non
assurance, which showed that her
heart was not nearly so confident nor
so bold as her words would make be-
lieve. Poor Brandon, usually 80 ready.
had nothing Ito say to that" but sat
in helpless silence.
&h1 tote ~ O.
wise determinations made at the cost
Of so much pain and effort? Was this
the answer to all his prayer, Lead
ne not into temptation" he 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
30 narrow he could not escape, but
must meet it face to face.
Mary soon recovered her self posses
don-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 it was very
bad and you have acted abominably
ever since. Now Is not that kind In
mef' And she softly laughed as she
peeped up ut the poor fellow from be-
meath those sweeping lashes. with the
premeditated purpose Of tantalizing
him, I suppose. She was beginning to
know her power over him, and it was
never greater than at this moment.
Her beauty had it's sweetest quality.
for the princess was sunk and the
woman was dominant, with hushed
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 ]
wonder Brandon maintained his self
restraint even for moment. lie felt
that his only hope lay In silence. so be
sat beside her and said nothing. He
told me long afterward that while Sit
ting there In the intervals between her
speech, the oddcst, 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 it. and then he
thought Of feigning illness. and a hun
dred other absurd schemes, but they
all came to nothing. and he sat there
TO let events take their own course, as
they seemed determined to do IN spite
Of him.
After a short silence Mary continued
half banteringly: Answer me, sir! l
will lave no more Of this. You shall
treat me at least with the courtesy you