Willmar tribune., 1903-07-08
CHAPTER TX.

1S1 THOUGHT the kings dance
s&A that night would never end
3e~Sy so fond were the Frenchmer
$3S2Hs&J Of our fair ladies, and l was
. more than anxious to see Brandon an(
learn the issue Of the girls escapade
s1s we'll knew the danger attending it
All things, however, must end, SC
early in the morning fastened to ou1
rooms, where l found Brandon lying
In his clothes, everything saturated
with blood from a dozen sword cuts. He
was very weak, and l at once had in a
barber, who took off his shirt Of mail
and dressed his wounds. He then
dropped into deep sleep, while i
watched the night out. Upon awaken
la1ng Brandon told me all that had hap
Hpened, but asked me to say nothing OF
This Illness as he wished to keep the
fact of his wounds secret in order that
he might better conceal the cause of
them. But, as l told you. he did not
speak of Buckingham's part in the af-
fray.
saw the princess that afternoon and
e1pected. of course, she would inquire
for her defender. One who had given
such timely help and who was suffer
ing so much on her account was sure
" worth a little solicitude, but not a
word did she ask She did not come
near me, but made a point of avoid
ssunce, as l could plainly see. The next
morning she, with Jane, went over to
Scotland palace without so much as a
breath Of inquiry from either of them.
This heartless conduct enraged me, but
4 was glad to learn afterward that
James silence was at Mary's COM
mand, that bundle of selfshness fear
Ing that any solicitude, however care
fully shown, upon her part might fe-
veal her secret.
1t seems that Mary had recent intel
1igence Of the forward state Of affairs
In the marriage negotiations and felt
that discovery by her brother of what
>she had done, especially in view Of the
disastrous results, would send her to
France despite all the coaxing she
could do from then till doomsday.
1t was a terrible fate hanging over
her, doubly so in view of the fact that
she loved another man, and looking
back at it all from the vantage point
OF time l cannot wonder that it drove
other things out Of her head and made
her seem selfish in her frightened de-
sire to save herself.
About IL o'clock Of the following
night l was awakened by knock at
my door, and upon opening in walked
a sergeant Of the sheriff of London,
with four yeomen at his heels.
The sergeant asked if one Charles
Brandon was present, and upon my af-
11rmative answer demanded that he be
Forthcoming. I told the sergeant that
Brandon was confined to his bed with
1llness, whereupon he asked to be
shown to his room.
1t was useless to resist or to evade,
80 awakened Brandon and took the
sergeant in. Here he read his warrant
to arrest Charles Brandon, Esq, for
the murder Of two citizens of London,
.perpetrated, done and committed upon
the night of such and such day of
this year Of our Lord 1914. Brandon's
hat had been found by the side Of the
dead men. and the authorities had re-
ceived information from a high source
that Brandon was the guilty person.
That high source was evidently Buck
1ngham.
When the sergeant found Brandon
covered with wounds, there was DO
longer any doubt, and although hard
ay able to lift his hand, he was forced
to dress and go with them. A horse
litter was procured, and we all started
to London.
While Brandon was dressing I said
would at once go and awaken the
king, who, I knew, would pardon the
odense when he heard my story, but
Brandon asked the sergeant to leave
Us to ourselves for a short time, and
closed the door.
''Please do nothing Of the sort, Cas-
koden," said he. IF you tell the king,
I will declare there is not one word of
truth in your story. There is only one
:person in the world who may tell of
chat nights happenings. and if she
does not they shall remain untold She
will make it all right at once, know.
I would not do her the foul wrong to
think for one instant that she will fail.
You do not know her. She sometimes
seems selfish, but it is thoughtlessness
tostered by flattery, and her heart Is
right. I would trust her with my life.
II lou breathe word Of what have
tod you, you may do more harm than
you can ever remedy. and ask you to
nay nothing to any one. If the princess
would not iberate me-but that is not
30 be thought of. Never doubt that
she can and will do it better than you
Shink. She is all gold"
This, Of course, silenced me, as did
not know what new danger l might
create or how might mar the matter
so much wished to mend. l did not
tell Brandon that the girls had left
Greenwich or Of my underlined and per.
haps unfounded fear that Mary might
not act as he thought she would in a
great emergency, but silently helped
hin, m 1rooo onH +o