Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-06-22

lay beside Mary. who gently put her
arms about her neck
when will he leaveT' whispered
Mary, shyly confessing all by her ques-
ton.
Il do not know" responded Jane.
''but he will see you before he goes"
do you believe he villa"
81 know it" And with this consola-
ton Mary softly wept herself to sleep.
After this, for few days. Mary YVES
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 meeting came about in this
way: Next to the kings bedchamber
was a luxuriously furnished little
apartment with well selected library.
Here Brandon and l 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 q seclud-
ed little alcove half hidden In arras
draperieS. There was q cushioned seat
along the wall and a small diamond
shaped window to furnish light.
he had not been there long when In
came Mary. I 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 a 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, II this
place is not large enough for us both,
will go. would 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 so?
You know-you must know-oh, 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. / 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. I
am going to be friends with you wheth-
er you will or not. Now what do you
say to that, STRIP She spoke with
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-
Geve. Poor Brandon, usually so ready,
had nothing Ito say to that" but sat
in helpless silence.
Was this the sum total of all his
wise determinations made at the cost
of so much pain and effort? Was this
the answer to all his prayer, Lead
me not into temptation?" He had done
his part, for he had done all he could.
Heaven had not helped him, since hei
was temptation thrust upon him when
least expected and when the way was
so narrow he could not escape, but
must meet~it face to face.
Mary soon recovered her self posses
sion-women are better skilled in this
art than men-and continued:
Il 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
me?" And she softly laughed as she
peeped up at 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 prinkess was sunk and the
woman was dominant, with flushed
face and flashing eyes that caught a
double luster from the glowing love
that made her heart beat so fast.
To be continued.