The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-04-23
CHAPTER VII-Continued.
s.: =: e =: Is =: =: e s: =:


CHAPTER VII-Continued
Poor Mary! Tne signs began to com,
now, and such small vestiges of her il
humor toward Brandon as still re
NAMED were frightened off in a hurry
by the fear that she had seen the las
Of him.
She had not before fully known tina
she loved him. She knew he was the
most delightful companion she haC
ever met and that there was an ex
hilaration about his presence which al
most intoxicated her and made life ar
ecstasy, yet she did not know it was
love. 1t needed but the thought that
know her malady and meet it face tc
face.
Upon the evening when Mary learn.
ed all this she went into her chamber
very early and closed the door. No
one interrupted her until Jane went in
to robe her for the night and to retire
She then found that Mary had robed
herself and was lying in bed with her
head covered, apparently asleep. Jane
quietly prepared to retire and lay
down in her own bed. The girls usual
~ shared one couch, but during Mary's
i'll temper she had forced Jane to sleep
alone
After a short silence Jane heard a
sob from the other bed, then another
and another.
MARY, are you weeping?" she asked.
Eyes"
what is the matter, dear2''
"Nothing,'' with a sigh.
'Do you wish me to come to your
bed?"
Eyes, I do" So Jane went over and
lay beside Mary, who gently put her
arms about her neck.
when will he leave? whispered
Mary, shyly confessing all by her ques-
ton.
II do not know" responded Jane,
'but he will see you before he goes"
''Do you believe he will?'
II know it, And with this consola-
ton 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 we'll selected library.
Here Brandon and I 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 a cushioned seat
along the wall and a small diamond
shaped window to furnish light
He had not been there long when in
came Mary. l cannot say whether she
knew Brandon was there or not, but
she was 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, if she
wished to rest.
MASTER Brandon, you need not go.
1 will not hurt you. Besides, if this
place is not large enough for US both,
l will go. would not disturb you"
smoke with
a quick, uneasy glance, and started to
move backward out of the alcove.
Lady Mary, how can you speak so?
You know-you must know-oh, l beg
YOU But she interrupted him by
taking his arm and drawing him to a
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. l don't know, but 1 want
to know, and I want you to sit here be-
side me and tell me. I am going to be
reconciled with you despite the way
you treated me when last we met. !
am going to be friends with YOU wheth
OK yOu VIII VI uOl. NOW what DO YOU
say to that, sir?" She spoke with q
huttering little laugh Of uneasy non.
assurance, which showed that he,
heart was not nearly so confident no,
so bold as her words would make be-
ieve. Poor Brandon, usually so ready
had nothing Ito say to that" but sal
in helpless silence.
Was this the sum total of all his
wise determinat tons made at the cos
of so much pain and effort? Was thi.
the answer to all his prayer, "Lea6
me not into temptation?" He had done
his part, for he had done all he could
Heaven had not helped him, since here
was termination thrust upon him whe1
least expected ana Wnen the way was
SO narrow he could not escape, blu,
must meet it face to face
Mary soon recovered her self posses
sion-women are better skilled in thi!
art than men-and continued:
II am not intending to say one wore
about your treatmen of me that da,