Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-04-10

much? Let me give you the money. l
have so much more than l need. Let
me pay it. Please tell me how much
it is, and | will hand it to you. You
can come to my rooms and get it, or
will send it to you. Now tell me that
l may. Quickly And she was alive
with enthusiastic interest
There, now, you are kind again, Az
kind as even you can be. Be sure,
thank you, though l say It only once"
and he looked into hey eyes with a
gaze she could not stand even for an
instant. This was growing dangerous
again; So catching himself, he turned
the conversation back into the banter
ing vein.
"Ah. you want to pay the debt that
l may have no excuse to remain? Is
that it? Perhaps you are not so kind
after ALL"
NO, no; you know better. But let
me pay the debt How much is it, and
to whom is it owing? Tell me at once,
l command you"
mo, no, Lady Mary; cannot"
"Please do. l beg, if l cannot COM
mand. Now l know you will. You
would not make me beg twice for any
thing" She drew closer to him as she
spoke and put her hand coaxingly upon
his arm. With an irresistible impulse
he took the hand in his and lifted it to
his lips in a lingering caress that could
not be mistaken. 1t was all so quick
and so full of fire and meaning that
Mary took fright, and the princess for
the moment came uppermOst.
Master Brandon" she exclaimed
sharply and drew away her hand. Bran
don dropped the hand and moved over
on the seat. He did not speak, but
turned his face from her and looked
out of the window toward the river.
Thus they sat in silence, Brandon's
hand resting listlessly upon the cush-
ion between them. Mary saw the elo-
quent movement away from her and
his speaking attitude with averted face;
then the princess went into eclipse, and
the imperial woman was ascendant
once more. She looked at him for a
brief space with softening eyes and,
lifting her hand, put it back in his, say
ing:
"There it is again-if you want it."
Want it? All, this was too much!
The hand would not satisfy now. 1t
must be all, all! And he caught her to
his arms with violence that fright
ened her.
please don't; please! Not this time.
All, have mercy, Charl- Well! Therel
There. Mary mother, forgive me!'
Then her woman spirit fell before the
whirlwind of his passion, and she was
on his breast, with her white arms
around his neck, paying the same trib-
ute TO the little blind god that he would
have exacted from the lowliest maiden
of the land.
Brandon held the girl for a moment
or two, then fell upon his knees and
buried his face in her lap.
Heaven help me!' he cried.
She pushed the hair back from his
forehead with her hand and as she
fondled the curls leaned over him and
softly whispered:
Heaven help US both, for l love
you"
He sprang TO his feet. Don't! Don't,
I pray you" he said wildly, and almost
ran from her,
Mary followed him nearly to the door
Of the room, but when he turned he
saw that she had stopped and was
standing with her hands over her face,
as if in tears.
He went back to her and said, II
tried to avoid this, and If you had
helped me it would never But he
remembered how he had always de-
spised Adam for throwing the blame
upon Eve, no matter how much she
may have deserved it, and continued:
mo, | do not mean that. 1t is all
my fault. l should have gone away
long ago. l could not help it, l tried,
oh, tried"
Mary's eyes were bent upon the
floor, and tears were falling over her