Cañon City record., 1903-12-03

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would scorn to waste his time at so
frivolous pursuit when he might he
Strengthening armies single handed and
alone"
II do not know as to his dancing
and card playing, but dare venture
wager he does BOTH" I replied. not
liking her tone of sarcasm. She had
yet to learn who Brandon was.
81 will hazard ten crowns" said
Mary quickly. for she loved a wager
and was a born gambler.
"Taken," said l.
1--WE will try him on both tomorrow
night in my drawing ROOM" she con
tinued. You bring I'm up but tell
no one. I will have Jane there with
her lutte. which will not frighten you
away know. and we will try his step
I will have cards, too and we shall see
what he can do at triumph. Just we
four. no one else at ALL You and Jane.
I can hardly wait' And she fairly
danced with joyous anticipation.
The thing had enough irregularity
to give 1t zest, for while Mary often
had few young people in her awning
room. the companies were never So
small as two couples only. and the
king and queen, to make up for greater
faults. We're wonderful sticklers In the
matter OF little proprieties.
The ten crown wager, too, gave spice
To 1t, but to do her Justice she cared
very little for that The princess
loved gambling purely for gambling
sake, and with her the next best thilg
to winning was losing.
When went to my room that night
awakened Brandon and told him Of
the distinguished honor that awaited
him.
what he would "be" He always halt
ed before an oath, unless angry. which
was seldom. but then beware. He
had learned to swear In Flanders.
How she Lid fly at me the other
morning! never was more surprised
in all my life. For once was almost
caught with my guard down and did
not know how to parry the thrust.
mumbled over some sort of lame
retaliation and beat retreat 1t was
so unjust and uncalled for that 1t
made me angry. But she was so gra-
cious in her amends that I was almost
glad II happened. I like a woman
who can be as savage as the very
devil when 1t pleases her. She usually
has In store an assortment Of pOssibli-
ties for the other extreme"
"She told me of your encounter"
returned. "but said she had come on
second best. and seemed to think her
overthrow a huge joke"
"The man who learns to know what
a woman thinks and feels will have
great deal OF valuable information" he
replied. and then turned over for sleep.
greatly pleased that one woman
thought as she did.
| was not cure he would be 30 highly
dattered II he knew that he had been
invited to settle wager and to help
Mary to E.tle sport.
As to the former. had an interest
there myself although dared not set
tie the question by asking Brandon II
he played cards and danced, and, as to
the matter of Mary's sport. felt there
was but little II any danger Of her
having too much of It at his expense.
Brandon being well able tn care for
himself in that respect.
The next evening at the appointed
time we wended our way by an unfre-
quented route and presented ourselves
as secretly as possible at the drawing
room of the princess.
The door was opened by Lady Jane,
and we met the two girls almost at the
threshold. had told Brandon Of the
bantering conversation about the title
and estates of the late Duke Of Suffolk.
and he had laughed over It In the best
Of humor II quick to retallate for an
intentional offense. he was not thin
skinned at piece OF pleasantly. and
had none Of that stiff. sensitive dignity
SO troublesome to oneself and friends.
Now, Jane and Mary were always
bantering me because was short and
inclined to be, in fact. round. but
did not care. 1t made them laugh. and
their laughing was so contagious 1t
made ME laugh. too. and we all en-
joyed 1t. would give pound sterling
any time for good laugh. and that,
think, is why have always been
round.
So. upon entering. said:
His grace the Duke of Suffolk. la
dies
They each made a sweeping courte-
sy. with hand on breast, and grnvely
saluted him:
"Your grace, good even.'
Brandon's bow was as deep and
graceful. II that were possible. as
theirs. and when he moved on into the
room 1t was with little halt In his
step and big blowing out Of the
cheeks In ludicrous imitation OF his
late lamented predecessor that sent the
girls into peals Of soft laughter and put
us all at our ease Immediately.
All. what thing 1t is to look back
unon-fhaf time of Life when one finds