The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-05-13

e III " rs ~ rs ~ ~ ~ - - ~ sSF
name of heaven, don't keep so close to
us! You won't move out of reach of
my hand, II you know how often 1t
inclines TO box your cars!"
Jane did know, | am sorry f, Mary's
sake to say, how often the fair hand
was given to such spasms; so with his
emphasized hint she walked on ahead,
half sulky ut the %indignity put upon
her and half amused at her whimsical
mistress.
Mary lost no time, but began the ut.
tack at once.
"Now, sir~l want you to tell me the
truth. Why do you refuse my invita-
tons and so pcrsistcntly keep away
from me- | thought at first | would
simply let you 30 your way, II then
L thought IL would not. Don't deny
it. l know o wont. With all your
faults. you don't tell even little lies;
not even to IL woman-I believe. Now
there is II fine complimcnt-is it not?-
when | intended to scold you!" She
gave II fluttcrlng little laugh, and, with
hanging head, continucd: Tell me,
Is not the kings sister OF quality suf.
ficient to suit YOU? Perhaps YOU must
have the queen or the Blessed Virgin?
Tell me now?" And she looked up at
him, half in banter, half in doubt.
"My duties began Brandon.
ooh, bother your duties! Tell me
the truth"
~ will, If you let me-" returned
Brandon, who had no intention what
ever of doing anything of The sort.
"My duties now occupy my time in the
evening"
THAT will not do" Interrupted Mary,
who knew enough of Il guardsman's
duty TO be sure it was not oncrous.
"You might as we'll come to it and tell
the truth; that you do not like our So
ciety." And she gave him n vicious
little glance without n shadow of n
smile.
"In Gods name, Lady Mary, that Is
not it," answered Brandon, who was
on the rack. please do not think 1t.
L cannot bear to have you say such a
thing when 1t is so far from the real
truth"
"Then tell me the real truth"
II cannot; l cannot. l beg of you
not to ask. Leave me, or let me leave
you! / refuse to answer further" The
latter half of this sentence was uttered
doggedly and sounded sullen and i'll
humorcd, although of course 1t was not
SO intended. He had been so perilous-
ly near speaking words which would
probably have lighted, to their destruc-
ton-to his ccrtainly-thc ~smoldcring
flames within their breast that 1t
frightened him, sand the in
which he spoke was but Il lone giving
utterancc to the pain in his heart.
Mary took it as 1t sounded and in un-
feigncd surprise exclaimed angrily:
"Leave you? Do 1 hear Alright? I
never thought that l, the daughter and
sister Of n king, would live TO be dis
missed by a-by AMY one."
"Your hi;hness'- began Brandon,
but she Was gone before he could
speak.
He did not follow her to explain,
knowing how dangerous such an ex
PLANTATION would be, but felt that 1t
was best for them both that she should
remain offended, painful as the thought
was to him.
or course, Mary's womanly self es-
teen, to say nothing Of her royal pride,
was wounded to the quick, and no
wonder.
Poor Brandon sat down upon a stone,
n MS he longingly watched her retir-
Ing form wished in his heart he were
dead. This was the first time he really
knew how much he loved the girl, II
he saw that, with him at least, it was
a matter Of bad to worse and at that
rate-Tould soon be-worst.
Now that he had unintcntionaily Of
Tended her and had permitted her to
go without an explanation she was
dearer to him than ever, and as he sat
there with his face In his hands he
knew that IL matters went on as they
were going the time would soon come
when he would throw caution to the
dogs and would try the impossible-to
win her for his own. Caution and
Judgment still sat enthroned, and they
told him now what he knew full we'll
they would not tell him after a short
time-that failure was certain to fol-
low the attempt and disaster sure to
follow failure. First, the king would
In all probability cut Off his head upon
an intimation of Mary's possible fond
ness for him, and, second, If he should
be so fortunate as to keep his head
Mary could not and certainly would
not marry him even If she loved him
with all her heart. The distance be-
tween them was too great, and she
knew too well what she owed to her
position. There was but one thing left
New Spain, and he determined while
sitting there to sail with the next ship.
The real cause of Brandon's manner
had never occurred to Mary. Although
she knew her beauty and power, as she
w MAsw