Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-09-23

AlN.lI%lBlNE S.
That young fellow is Of different stun,
4 know, from the old king, but have
all faith in her purity and ability to
take care Of herself. Before she left
she promised to be true to me, what
ever befell, and I trust her entirely.
] am not SO unhappy by any means as
one would expect. Am 1? And was
compelled to admit that he certainly
was not.
So it seems they had met, as Jane
and suspected, but how Mary manag-
ed it l. am sure cannot tell. She beat
the very deuce for having her own
way, by hook or by crook. Then came
the bulky letter, which Brandon pounc.
ed upon and eagerly devoured. I leave
out most Of the sentimental passages,
which, like efervescent wine, lose fla.
vor quickly. She said, in part:
To Master Brandon:
Sir and Dear Friend, Greeting-After
leaving thee, long time had that mighty
grief and dole within my heart that it
was like to break, for my separation from
than I had taken thought of. and also
doubted me that could live in Paris, as
I did wish. Sleep rested not upon my
weary eyes. and of very deed could I
neither eat nor drink. since food distasted
me like a nausea and wine did strangle
In my throat. This lasted through my
Journey hither. which did prolong upon
many pretexts nearly two months, but
when did at last rest mine eyes for the
first time upon this King Louis face /
well knew that could rule him. ana
when I did arrive and had adjusted my
self In this Paris found it 80 easy that
my heart leaped for very Joy. Beauty
goeth so far with this inflammable people
that easily do rule them all, and truly
doth a serv1le subject make q sharp, capri
cious tyrant. Thereby the misfortune which
hath come upon us Is Of so much less evil
and is SO like to be Of such short duration
that I am almost happy, but for lack Of
1t may verify be blessing unseen.
This new, unexpected face upon our
trouble hath so driven the old gnawins
ache out Of my heart that I love to be
alone and dream. open eyed, of the time,
Of a surety not far of. when shall be
with thee. $50 It is ofttimes sore hard
for me. who have never waited. to have to
wait. like patient Griselda. which Of
truth I am not, for this which I do SO
want, but try to make myself content
with the thought that full sure it will not
be for long. and that when this tedious
time hath spent itself we shall look back
upon it as a very soul school. and shall
rather Joy that we did not purchase our
heaven too cheaply.
I said I find it easy to live here as
wish. and did begin to tell thee how It was
when I ran of into telling OF how long
for thee. SO will try again. This Louis,
to begin with. is but the veriest shadow
Of q man, of whom thou needst have not
one jealous thought. He Is on q bed Of
cord, and If. perchance, he be but fairly
well day or so l do straightway make
him Ill again in one way or another and.
please God. hope to wear him out entirely
ere long time. OF q deed, Brother Henry
was right. Better had it been for Louis to
have married human devil than me, for
It maketh a very one out Of me II mine
eyes but rest upon him. and thou know
est full well what kind Of a devil make.
Brother Henry knoweth. at any rate. For
all this do I grieve, but have no remedy
nor want one. I sometimes do almost
compassionate the old king. but cannot
forbear. for he turneth my very blood to
biting gall. and must cen take the conse-
Quences Of his own folly. Truly is he
wild for love Of me. this poor old man.
and the more hold him at a distance tho
more he fondly dotes. l do verify believe
he would try to stand upon his foolish
old head did I but insist. sometimes
have q thought to make him try it. He
doeth enough that is senseless and alb
surd, in all conscience, as 1t Is. At all of
this do the courtiers smile and laugh and
put me forward to other pranks-that is,
all but few Of the elders, who shake
their heads, but dare do nothing else for
fear Of the dauphin, who will soon be
king and who stands first in urging and
abetting me. So it is easy for me to do
what I wish. and above all to leave un-
rule them all. as good Sir Edwin and dear
Jane will testify. l have a ball every
night wherein do make q deal of amuse-
ment for every one by dancing La Volta
with his majesty until his heels. and his
poor old head, too, are like to fall off.
Others importune me for those dances,
especially the dauphin. but I laugh and
with no one but the king. because he
dances so we'll. This pleases his majesty
nightly and maketh an opening for me
to avoid the touch of other men, for am
Jealous Of myself for thy sake and save
and garner every little touch for thee.
-" Sir Edwin will tell you dance with
no one else and surely never will.
You remember we'll, l doubt not. when
thou first didst teach me this new dance.
All. how delightful 1t was and yet how
at first it did brighten and anger me.
Thou canst not know how my heart beat
during all the time of that first dance.
thought, of surety. 1t would burst, and
then the wild thrill of frightened ecstasy
that made my blood run like fire! I knew
1t must be wrong. for 1t was. in truth. too
sweet thing to be right. And then l
grew angry at thee as the cause Of my
wrongdoing and scolded thee, and repented
it. as usual. Truly didst thou conquer,
not win, me. Then afterward. withal it
SO frightened me- how l longed to dance
again. and could in no way stay myself
from asking. AT times could I hardly
wait till evening fell. and when upon oc-
casion thou d1dst not come was so angry
fe'>>'ee'e'e'e'e'e'>e'