Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-04-10
flushed cheeks UNDECIDED and uncheck-

flushed cheeks UNDECIDED and uncheck-
ed
"There is no fault in any one. Mel
thcr could help it," she murmured.
"No, no; it is not that there is any
fault in the ordinary sense. 1t is like
suicide or any other great self inflicted
injury with me. | am different from
other men. | shall never recover"
81 know only too well that you are
different from other men, and-and |,
too, am different from other women.
Am | notT'
"Ah, different! There is no other
woman in all this wide, long world"
And they were in each others arms
again. She turned her shoulder to
him and rested with the support of his
arms about her. Her eyes were cast
down in silence, and she was evident
ly thinking as she toyed with the lace
of his doublet. Brandon knew her
varying expressions so well that he
saw there was something wanting, so
he asked:
as there something you wish to
say"
Not l." she responded with en-
phasis on the pronoun.
Then it is something you wish me
to say?"
She nodded her head slowly, Eyes"
"What is it? Tell me, and | will say
it."
She shook her head slowly, NO"
"What is it? l cannot guess"
"Did you not like to hear me say that
that I-loved your"
"Ah, yes You know it. But-oh.-
do you wish to hear me say it,"
The head nodded rapidly two or
three times, Yes" And the black
curving lashes were lifted for fleet
ing. luminous instant.
1T is surely not necessary. You
have known it so long already but 1
am only too glad to say it. love you"
She nestled closer to him and hid her
face on his breast.
Now that have said it, what is my
reward?' he asked, and the fair face
came up, red and rosy, with rewards"
any one of which was worth a kings
ransom.
But this is worse than insanity"
cried Brandon as he almost pushed her
from him. 1--WE can never belong to
each other. Never"
NO said Mary, with a despairing
shake of the head, as the tears began
to flow again. mo, never" And fall
ing upon his knees he caught both her
hands in his, sprang to his feet and
ran from the room.
Her words showed him the chasm
anew. She saw the distance between
them even better than he. Evidently
it seemed farther looking down than
looking up. There was nothing left
now but flight.
He sought refuge in his own apart
ments and wildly walked the floor ex-
claiming: Fool, fool that l am to lay
up this store of agony to last me all
my days. Why did l ever come to this
court? God pity me-pity met And
he fell upon his knees at the bed bury
ing his face in his arms, his mighty
mans frame shaking as with palsy.
That same night Brandon told me
how he had committed suicide, as he
put it, and of his intention to go to
Bristol and there await the sailing OF
the ship and perhaps find a partial res
direction in New Spain.
Unfortunately, he could not start for
Bristol at once, as he had given some
challenges for tournament at Rich
mond and could furnish no good excuse
to withdraw them, but he would not
leave his room or again see that girl
who was driving him mad"
1t was better. he thought and wise
ly. too. that there be no leave taking
but that he should 80 without meeting
her.
"If l see her again." he said. Il shall
have to kill some one, even if it is only
myself"
| heard him tossing in his bed all
night. and when morning came he
arose looking haggard enough, but with
his determination to run away and see
Mary no more stronger than ever up
OH him.
But Providence or fate or some one
ordered it differently, and there was
plenty of trouble ahead