CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1903-12-03

the last day or so from Sir Edwin, but
tad begun to fear he was not going to
| give me the pleasure of knowing you.
| hope may see you often now and
that | may present you to my mis-
| tress."
| With this her eyes. bright as over
grown dcwdrors. twinkled with a mis-
chicvous little smile. as II to say, ''Ah.
another large handsome fellow to make
fool of himself"
Brandon acquiesced in the wish she
had made. and after the Interchange
Of few words Jane said her mistress
was waiting at the other side of the
grounds and that she must go. She
then ran off with laugh and a cour-
| tesy and was soon lest to sight behind
the shrubbery mt tie turning of the
walk
| III short time we came to Il summer
house near the marble boat landing,
where we found the queen and some
| of her ladies' awaiting the rest of their
party for trip down tie river which
had been planned the day before. Bran
don was known to the queen and sever
al of the ladies. althou. Ii he had not
been formally presented at an audi
ence. Many OF the kings friends Ell
joyed considerable intimacy with tll,'
whole court without ever receiving the
public stamp of recognition socially
which goes with formal presentation.
The queen. seeing us, sent me of TO
bring the king. After had gone she
asked If any one had seen the Princess
Mary. and Brandon told her Lady Jane
had said she was at the other side Of
the grounds. Thereupon her majesty
asked Brandon to find the princess and
to say that she was wanted.
Brandon started of and soon found
q bevy of girls sitting on some benches |
under a spreading oak. weaving spring |
flowers. He had never seen the prin-
cess. SO could not positively know her. |
As a matter of fact he did know her as |
soon as his eyes rested on her. for she |
could not be mistaken among thou |
sand. There was no one like her or any |
thing near it. Some stubborn spirit OF |
opposition, however. prompted him to |
pretend Ignorance. All that he had |
heard of her wonderful power over |
men and the servile manner in which |
they fell before her had aroused in |
him spirit of antagonlsm and had be-
gotten a kind OF Gistaste beforehand.
He was wrong in this. because Mary |
was not coquette In any sense OF the
word and did absolutely nothing to at
tract men except to be 30 beautiful.
sweet and winning that they could not
let her alone. for all Of which surely
the prince of fault finders himself couia |
in no way blame her.
She could not help that God had seen
At to make her the fairest being OH
earth. and the responsibility would
have to lie where 1t belonged-with
God. Mary would have none Of II. |
Her attractiveness was not a matter
of volition or Intention on her part.
She was too young for deliberate snare
setting. though 1t often begins very |
early in life. and made no effort to at
tract men. Mans love was too cheap
thing for her to strive for. and am
sure in her heart she would Infinitely
have preferred to live without it--that
is, until the right one should come.
The right one IL always on his way
and, first or last. IL sure TO come to
every woman-sometimes. alaA too
late-and when he comes. be II late
or early. she crowns him. even though
he be a long cared ass. Blessed crown.
auu ole,SbSu DuhAhcno- AkschV
were fewer coropations.
SO Brandon stirred this antagonism
and determined not to see her manifold
perfections. which he felt sure were
exaggerated. but to treat her as he
would the queen. who was black and
leathery enough to frighten q satyr. |
with all respect due to her rank, but
with his own opinion Of her neverthe-
less safely s.ored away in the back Of
his head.
Coming up to the group. Brandon
took OF his hat and. with graceful
little bow that let the curls fall around
his face, as.-ed. Have I the honor to
find the Princess Mary among these
ladies?''
Mary, who know you will at once
say was thoroughly spoiled. without
turning her face toward him replied:
.Ts the Princess Mary a person Of so
little consequence about the court that
she Is not known to a mighty captain
Of the guard? ?"
He wore his churchman's doublet.
and she knew his rank by his uniform.
She had not noticed his face.
Quick as a flash came the answer:
T cannot say Of what consequence the
Princess Mary is about the court. II
is not my place to determine such mat
tiers. am sure, however, she IL not
here. for doubt not she would have
given gentler answer to a message
from the queen. I shall continue my
search" With this he turned to leave.
and the ladies'. including Jane. who
was there and saw 1t all and told me
OF It, awaited the bolt they knew would
come. for they saw the lightning gath
ering in Mary's eyes.