The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-04-17
bosom again.


mistress did not speak to her until she
called her in that evening to make her
toilet By that time Mary had forgot
ten about the note in her bosom; SO
when Jane began to array her for the
dance it fell to the floor, whereupon
both girls broke into a laugh. and Jane
kissed Mary's bare shoulder. and Mary
kissed the top of James head. and they
We're friends again.
So Brandon accepted Mary's invita-
ton and went to Mary's dance. but his
going made for him an enemy OF the
most powerful nobleman in the realm,
and this was the way OF 1t:
These parties OF Mary's had been go
ing on once or twice a week during the
entire winter and spring. and usually
included the same persons. 1t was
sort Of coterie. whose members were
more or less congenial and most OF them
very Jealous of interlopers. Strange
as ii may seem. uninvited persons Of
ten attempted to force themselves In.
and all sorts Of schemes and maneu-
vers were adopted to gain admission
To prevent this two guardsmen with
halberds were stationed at the door.
Modesty. / might say. neither thrives
nor is useful at court
When Brandon presented himself at
the door. his entrance was barred. but
he quickly pushed aside the halberds
and entered. The Duke Of Bucking-
| ham. a proud. self important individu-
al, was standing near the door and
| saw it all. Now. Buckingham was
one of those unfortunate persons who
never lose an opportunity to make
| mistake. and. being anxious to display
his zeal on behalf of the princess. step
ped up to prevent Brandon's entrance
| Sir, you will have to move out OF
| this" he said pompously. "You are
not at jousting bout. You have made
a mistake and have come to the wrong
place"
MY lord OF Buckingham Ii pleased
to make rather more OF IN ass OF him.
self than usual this evening" replied
Brandon. with a smile. as he started
across the room to Mary, whose eye
he had caught She had seen and beard
it all. but instead of coming to his re-
lief stood there laughing to herself.
At this Buckingham grew furious and
ran around ahead of Brandon. valiant
Iy drawing his sword
Now. by heaven. fellow. make but an
other step. and will run you through
he said
saw it all. but could hardly realize
what was going on. 1t came so quickly
and was over so soon. Like q flash
Brandon's sword was out Of its sheath
and Buckingham's blade was flying to
| ward the ceiling. Brandon's sword
was sheathed again so quickly that one
could hardly believe it had been out
at all, and. picking up Buckingham's
he said with half smothered laugh
My lord has dropped his sword y
He then broke its point with his hee
against the hard floor. saying. Il will
dull the point lest my lord. being unac
customed to its use. wound himself
This brought peals of laughter from
everybody. including the king. Mari
laughed also, but. as Brandon wal
handing Buckingham his blade. came
up and demanded:
.My lord. is this the way you take 4
! upon yourself to receive my guests
Who appointed you. let me ask, t
,, guard my doorf We shall have to omi
|, your name from our next list unles
you take a few lessons I'm good man
, ners." This was striking him hard
and the quality of the man will at ono
appear plain to you when ! say tina
. he had often received worse treatment
but clung to the girls skirts all til
more tenaciously. Turning to Brandon
: the princess said;
"Master Brandon, / am glad to se
you. and regret exceedingly that ou
friend OF Buckingham should so thirs
: for your blood" She then led him I
the king and queen, to whom he mad
his bow, and the pair continued the
walk about the room. Mary again a
! iuded to the skirmish at the door an
said laughingly:
: II would have come TO your help, bt
knew you were amply able to tai
care Of yourself. ] was sure you woul
. worst the duke In some way. IL Wa
better than mummery, and was gla
, : to see 1t. ! do not like him."
The king did not open these prlva'
4 balls, as he was supposed at least NJ
: to be their patron, and the queen, wi
l' was considerably older than Henr
u was ayerse to such things. SO the pn
= = cess opened her own balls. dancing {,
few minutes, with the floor entire
to herself and partner. 1t was the no
: or of the evening to open the ball wi
her, and quite curious to see how m'
. put themselves in her way and sto'
y SO as to be easily observed and. pc
/, chance, chosen. Brandon after leavil
= Mary had drifted into corner Of q
. room back Of q group Of people al
~, was talking to Wolsey-who was |
ways very friendly to him-and to Ma
=. ter Cavendish, quaint, quiet, easy
;, tie man, full of learning and kindnet
W and q warm friend to the Prince
80 Mary.
1t was time TO open the ball, a
a, from my place in the musicians 9
= lery / could see Mary moving abo
!, among the guests. evidently looking
a partner while the men resorted
some very transparent and amusi
:. expedients to attract her attention. I
:, princess, however. took none OF
bidders, and soon, noticed, she espi
m Brandon standing In the corner W
- his back toward heF.
ha Something told me she was going
- ask him to open the dance. and !
- gretted II. because knew II would
- every nobleman in the npusa agai
en- him, they being very jealous OF
80 "lowborn favoFites," as they called
na untitled friends OF royalty. 81
"a enough. ! was right Mary at once
.Ia gan to make her way over to the
"a ner, and heard her say. :Master Br
IN, don. will you dance with meT