Cañon City record., 1903-12-24

you. An explanation. however good.
would have been little comfort TO you
had Bra ndon failed you in Biilingsgate
that night
She had fallen into chair by this
time and sat in reverie. staring at notl.
ing Then the tears came again. but
more softly.
"You are right: nothing can excuse
me. l am the most selfish. ungrateful.
guilty creature ever born. \ whole
month in that dungeon!' And she
covered her dropping face with hei
hands.
Go away for awhile. Edwin. ana
then return. We shall want to see you
again" said Jane.
Upon my return Mary was more
composed Jane had dressed her hair,
and she was sitting on the bed in her
riding habit hat in hand Her fingers
were nervously toying at the ribbons
and her eyes cast down.
You are surely right. Sir Edwin. |
have no excuse. | can have none. but
| will tell you how it was. You re
member the day you left me in the
waiting room of the kings council.
when they were discussing my mar
riage without one thought of me. as
If We're but slave or n dumb brute
that could not feelF' She began 10
weep little but soon recovered her
self. while waiting for you to re-
turn the Duke OF Buckingham came in.
| knew Henry was trying to sell me to
the French king. and my heart was
full of trouble-from more causes than
you can know All the council. espe-
cially that butchers son. were urging
him on. and Henry himself was an2
ious that the marriage should be
brought about He thought 1t would
strengthen him for the imperial crown.
He wants everything and is ambitious
to be emperor. Emperor, He would
cut pretty figure, hoped. though.
should lie able to induce him not to
sacrifice me to his selfish interests. as
have done before. but | knew only
too well 1t would tax my powers to the
utmost this time. knew that il | did
anything 10 aII.ser or to antagonize him
it would he all at an end with me. You
know he is so exacting with other peo-
pies conduct for one who is so careless
of his own--so virtuous by proxy. You
remember how cruelty he disgraced
and crushed poor Lady Chesterfield.
who was in such trouble about her hus-
hnnd and who went to Grouche's onlv
to learn II he were :rne to her. Henry
seems to be particularly sensitive in
that direction. one would think 1t
was In the commandments. Thou shalt
not 20 to Grouche's.
We'll. knew could do nothing
with Henry if he once learned Of that
visit especially as It resulted SO fa-
tally. Oh. why did go: Why did
Henry mt once. | was hoping some 9th
er way wodld open whereby ! might
save Charles-Master Brandon. While
l was waiting along came the Duke of
Buckingham. and as | knew he was
popular in London and had almost as
much influence there as the king
thought came to me that he might help
us.
~ knew that he and Master Brandon
had passed u few anGry words at one
time In my ballroom-you remember
but also knew that the duke was in
In love with me. you know, or pretend
ed to be-Ee always said he was--and I
felt sure could by II little iattery In
duce him 10 do anything. He was al
ways protesting that he would give
half his blood to serve me. As II any,
body wanted drop OF his wretched
blood. Poor Master Brandon. His
blood and tears came, choking her
words for the moment. 80 | told the
duke had promised you and Jane to
procure Master Brandon's liberty. and
asked him to do 1t for me. He gladly
consented and gave me his knightly
word that it should be attended to
without an hours delay. He said It
might have to be done secretly in the