The San Francisco call., 1903-01-11
CHAPTER VI.
A RARE RIDE TO WINDSOR.

A RARE RIDE TO WINDSOR.
The Princess knew her royal brother.
man would receive quicker reward for
inventing an amusement or a gauoS cos
tune for the King than by winning him
a battle Later in life the high lvad TO
his favor was in ridding him of his wife
and helping him TO new one-a 9angel-
GUS way. though. as Wolsey found to his
sorrow when he sunk his glory in poor
Anne Boleyn.
Brandon took the hint and managed to
let il be known to this play-loving King
that he knew the latest French games,
The French Due de Longueville had for
some time been an honored prisoner 10
the English court, held as a hos; hostase from
blockhead who could not keep his little
black eyes off our fair ladies', who hated
him, long enough to tell the deuce of
don was taken from his duties, such
they were, and placed at the card table.
This was fortunate at first; for being the
game. the King always won. If he lost
there would soon be no game, and the
man who won from him too frequently
rated guilty of the very highest sort of
treason. 1 think many mans fall, un-
der Henry VIII, was owing to the fact
that he did not always allow the King to
win in some trivial matter of game or
joust. Under these conditions everybody
was anxious to be the Kings partner. 1t
is true he frequently forgot TO divide his
winnings but his partner had this ad-
vantage, at least: there was no danger of
seat Opposite the King was very likely to
excite envy, and the time soon came,
Henry having learned the play, when
Brandon had to face some one else, and
the seat was too costly for man with
out treasury. II took but few days
to put Brandon hors de combat, financial
ly, and he would have been in a bad
plight had not Wolsey come to his re-
lief. After that he played and paid the
King In his own coin.
This great game Of "honor and ruff
during a fortnight. He feasted on it to
safety. as he did with everything else;
never having learned not to cloy his ap-
Of Of Brandon while the Kings fever yer" lasted lts
and Mary said she wished she had re-
mained silent about the cards. You see.
she, could enjoy. this new .plaything as
well as her brother. but the King, of
course. must be satisfied first They both
had enough eventually. Henry in one
way, Mary in another.
he would rebuild certain chapel at
Windsor; so he took a number of the
court. including Mary Jane, Brandon and
myself. and went with us up to London,
where we lodged over night at Bridewell
House. The next morning-as bright and
beautiful a June day as ever ,gladdened
Windsor; delightful seven-league ride
over a fair road.
Mary and Jane travelled side by side,
with an ccasional companion or two. as
the road permitted. I was angry with
Jane as you know, so did not go near the
girls; and Brandon. without any apparent
intention one way or the other, allowed
events 10 adjust themselves, and rode
with Cavendfsh and me.
we were perhaps forty yards behind
the girls, and / noticed after a time that
the Lady Mary kept looking backward
In our direction, as II fearing rain from
the east. l was in hopes that Jane, too,
would fear the rain, but you would have
ahead did she keep her face. We had
ridden perhaps three leagues, when the
Princess stopped her horse and turned in
not understand what she said
In moment some one called out
Master Brandon is wanted" So that
gentleman rode forward and l followed
him. When we came up with the girls
Mary said: Il fear my girth Is loose"
:. Brandon at once dismounted to tighten
II, and the others of our immediate party
began TO cluster around
Brandon tried the girth.
My lady. IT is as tight as the horse
1T is loose. say" Insisted the Princess.
with little irritation; ''the saddle feels
like It. Try the other" Then turning
ardand DosS the r.drs gathered
standing there like gaping pumpkins. TO
tighten my girth? Ride on; we. can man
age ss, this without SO much help" Upon
DlOdh INIT cN6TyDOuy TOQG anea0.
while l held the horse for Brandon. who
went on with his search for the loose
girth.s While he was looking for it Mary
Were you and Cavendlsh settling ali the
philosophical points now in dispute, that
you found him so interesting?"
NOT at ALL" answered Brandon, smil-
You were so absorbed, supposed II
could be nothing short Of that" !.
No. replied Brandon again. But the
Perhaps. 1 only imagined It," returned
Mary carelessly having lost interest in
1 looked toward Jane. whose ewes were
bright with a smile, and turned Brandon
horse over to him. James smile gradu-
ally broadened into laugh. and she said:
Edwi1, III l fear ear my girth is loose also
unable to keep straight face any
longer.
Yes" answered Jane, with a vigorous
iittie iittie nod or her head. and a peal of
Then drop back with me-" responded.
Ihe Princess looked at us with a half
smile, half frown, and remarked: Now
you doubtless consider yourselves verv
brilliant and witty
Yes returned Jane maliciously, nod
qing ng her mead In emphatic assent, as the
Princess and Brandon rode on before ,Is
hope she is satisfied now" said lane
sotto voce to me.
l replied. 'H '0O
Y es," nodded Jane.
'Why?" l asked
irbfening Ganse rssnona. want you to-" was the en-
-, Then why did you not dance with me
the other EVENING"" -''
Because l did not want to"
80 snort but comprehensive thought
put sufi1cient reason for a maiden
said nothing, however, and after q
time Jane spoke: ."The dance was one
thing and riding with you is another
l did not wish to dance with Won. buf
90 wish to ride with you You Are tba
only gentleman to whom I would bave
said what l did about my girth beine
loose AS to the new dance 1 do NOT
care to learn 1T because / would NOT
dance 1t with any man but you. and NOT
even with you-yet." This made me glad
and coming from coy, modest Jane mean
a great deal 1t meant that she careS
for me, and would, some day. be nina.
but 1t also meant that she would take
her own time and her own sweet wav IN
being won. This was comforting. If not
satisfying, and loosened nv tonuue.
Jane, you know my heart is full Of love
for you" 0'0
'Will the universe crumble?" she cr;ad
with the most provoking little laugh
Now that sentence was my rock aheSd
whenever l tried to give Jane some idea
Of the state Of my affections. II was .
part of speech which had prepared and
delivered to Mary in James hearing aa
you already know. / had said to fha