Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-05-29

Continued from last week.
James whole attitude toward me was
changed and she seemed TO cling to
me in shy. unconscious manner, that
was sweet beyond the naming, rs the
one solace for all her grief.
After I had answered all her ques-
tons and had told her over and over
again every detail of Mary's fight and
had assured her that the princess was
at that hour breasting the waves with
Brandon on their highroad to paradise.
| thought it time to start myself in
the same direction and to say Il word
in my own behalf. SO | spoke very
freely and told Jane what felt and
what | wanted.
ooh, Sir Edwin she responded,
"let us not think of anything but my
mistress. Think of the trouble she is
in"
"No, no. Jane Lady Mary is out of
her trouble by now and is as happy as
a lark, you may be sure. Has she not
won everything her heart longcd for?
Then let us make our own paradise.
since we have helped them make theirs.
You have it, Jane. just within your
lips. Speak the word. and it will
change everything, if you love me, and
| know YOU do"
James head was bowed. and she re-
maiHed silent.
Then | told her of Lady Mary's mes
sage and begged, if she would not
speak in words what | so longed to
hear. she would at least tell it by al
lowing me to deliver only one little
thousandth part of the message Mary
had sent but she drew away and said
she would return to the castle if |
continued to behave in that manner. |
begged hard and tried to argue the
point but logic seems to lose its force
in such situation, and all | said
availed nothing. Jane was obdurate
and was for going back at once. Her
persistence was beginning to look like
obstinacy, and | soon grew so angry
that | asked no permission, but deliv-
cred Mary's message, or good part of
it at least, whether she would or no,
and then sat back and asked her what
she was going to do about it.
Poor little Jane thought she was I'M
done for life. She sat there half pout-
ing, half weeping, and said she could
do nothing about it; that she was alone
now, and if |, her only friend would
treat her that way she did not know
where to look.
"Where to look?" demanded. "LooB
here, Jane; here. You might as wei
understand first as last that | will not
be trifled with longer, and that l intent
to continue treating you that way as
long as we both live. l have deter
mined not to permit you to behave as
you have for so long, for | know vol
love me. You have half told me so ;
dozen times. and even your half words
are whole truths. There is not frac
ton of a lie in you. Besides. Mary tolt
me that you told her So
"She did not tell you that?''
Eyes, upon my knightly honor" O
course there was but one answer t,
this-tears. | then brought the battl
to close quarters at once, and, with NJ
arm uninterrupted at my lady's waist
asked:
did you not tell her so? know 70
will speak nothing but the truth. Iii
you not tell her? Answer me. Jane.
The fair head nodded as she whispere
J between the hands that covered he
face:
Eyes. 1-I-d-did," and well, l d.
livered the rest of Mary's messag,
and that. too, without protest frol
: Jane.
Truthfulness is a pretty good thini
after all.
So Jane was conquered at last, and
heaved sigh as the battle ended, fC
It had been long. hard struggle.
r asked Jane when we should be ma
ried, but she said she could not thin
of that now-not until she knew tn;
Mary was safe, but she would promis
l to be my wife some time.
We went back to the castle, and {
, we parted Jane said timidly: II a.
glad | told you, Edwin. Glad ii
e over"
She had evidently dreaded it, but
was glad too. Very glad. Then
went to bed.