The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-04-17
CHAPTER V.
AN HONOR AND AN ENEMY.

kS-=-J audience and presented 10 the
S&SSg king and queen. He was now
eligible to all palace entertainments
and would probably have many invita-
tions, being favcrite with both their
majestieS. AS to his standing with
Mary. who was really the most impor-
tant figure socially about the court,
could not exactly say. She was such a
mixture of contradictory impulses and
rapid transitions. and was so full or
whims and caprice. the inevitable out
growth of her blood. her rank and the
adulation amid which she had always
lived that l could not predict Tor
day ahead her attitude toward any one-
She had never shown so great favor
to any man as to Brandon, but just
how much of her condescension was
a mere whim, growing out Of the i'm
pulse of the moment and subject to
reaction. l could not tell l believed,
however. that Brandon stood upon a
firmer foundation with this changing.
shifting quicksand of girl than with
either of their majesties-
In fact, l thought he rested upon her
heart itself. But to guess correctly
what a girl of that sort will do or think
or feel would require inspiration
OF course most of the entertainments
given by the king and queen included
as guests nearly all the court, but
Mary often had little fetes and dane
| ing parties which were smaller, more
select and informal These parties were
really with the consent and encourage
ment of the king. to avoid the respon-
sibility of not inviting everybody. The
| larger affairs were very dull. and
smaller ones might give offense to
| those who were left out. The latter,
therefore. were turned over to Mary,
who cared very little who was Offend
ed or who was not. and invitations to
them were highly valued.
One afternoon day or two after
Brandon's presentation a message ar
rived from Mary notifying me that she
would have a little fete that evening
in one of the smaller halls and direct
ing me to be there as master of the
dance Accompanying the message was
q note from no less a person than the
lprfncess herself. inviting Brandon
This was an honor indeed-an auto
graph invitation from the hand of Ma
y, But the masterful rascal did not
seem to consider 1t anything unusual
and when ! handed him the note upon
his return from the hunt he simply
read it carelessly over once. tore it in
pieces and tossed it away. ! believe
the Duke of Buckingham would have
given 10000 crowns to receive such q
note and would doubtless have shown
1t to half the court in triumphant con
fdence before the middle of the night
To this great captain of the guard \
was but a scrap OF paper. He was glad
10 have II. nevertheless. and with all hi
self restraint and stoicism could no
conceal his pleasure.
Brandon at once accepted the invita-
ton in q personal note to the princess
The boIdness of this actually took m,
breath, ard 1t seems at first to hav
startled Mary a little also. As yol
must know by this time, her .dignit,
royaP' was subject to alarms and quit
her most troublesome attribute-Fer
apt to receive damage In her relation
with Brandon
Mary did not destroy Brandon's note
despite the fact that her sense Of dig
nifty had been disturbed by 1t. but afte
she had read 1t slipped OF into her pr
vate room, read ii again and put 1t o
her eseritoire. Soon she picked it VI
refead it and, after a little hesitation
| put 1t In her pocket 1t remained 1
the pocket for q moment or two, whe
out it came for another perusal, an
then she unfastened her bodice and pt
it in her bosom. Mary had been so il
tent upon what she was doing that sf
had not seen Jane. who was sittin
quietly In the window, and when 81
turned and saw her she was SO angr
she snatched the note from her bosol
and threw it upon the noor. stampir
her foot in embarrassment and rage
How dare you watch me. hussy
she cried You lurk around as still |
the grave, and have to look into eyel
nook and corner wherever ] go or hay
you spying on me-"
Il did not spy upon you. Lady Mary
said Jane quietly.
Don't answer mel | know you di
want you to be less silent after thl
= Do you heaF7 Cough or sing or stur
hs BILE; do something, anything, that
rs may hear you"
Jane rose, picked up the note and
- fered il to her mistress, who snatch'
,x IT with one hand while she gave her
sharp slap with the other. Jane RI
out. and Mary. full Of anger and shan
pit slammed the door and locked 1t. =
Of note. being the cause Of all the troub
she impatiently threw 10 the do
again and went over TO the windc
i bench. where she threw herself do'
to pout In the course or i've minui
she turned her head for one neeu
instant and looked at the note, o
then, after a little hesitation. ST
nd over to where she had thrown IL @
of picked II up. Going back 10 the lie
no. at the window she held 1t in her ha
a moment and then read 1t once. twi
thrice The third time brought