Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-07-24


and she, STOPPING over him, raised MN
TO his feet and placed her hand In MS
Thus Mary was married to the mar
IN save whose life she had four months
before married the French king.
She and Queen Claude had forgotten
nothing, and all arrangements were
completed for the fight. A messenger
had been dispatched two hours before
with an order from Queen Claude that
a ship should be waiting at Dieppe
ready to sail Immediately upon our
arrival.
After the ceremony Claude quickly
bound up Mary's hair, and the queens
departed from the chapel In tne'r
coach. We soon followed. meeting
them again at St. Denis gate, wnere
we found the best Of horses and -FOUR
sturdy men awaiting US. The messen'
ger to Dieppe who had preceded us
would arrange for relays. and, as Ma
~, according to her wont when sne
had another to rely upon, had taken
the opportunity to become Thoroughly
frightened, no time was lost. We made
these forty leagues in less than twenty
four hours from the time Of starting,
having paused only for short rest at
a little town near Rouen, which city
we carefully passed around.
We had little fear Of being overtaken
at the rate we were riding, but Mary
said she supposed the wind would die
down for month Immediately upon
our arrival at Dieppe. Fortunately no
one pursued us, thanks to queen
Claude, who had spread the report that
Mary was Ill, and, fortunately also,
much to Mary's surprise and delight,
when we arrived at Dieppe, as fair
wind as a sailors heart could wish was
blowing right up the channel. 1t was
part Of the system Of relays-horses.
ship and wind.
when the very wind blows for our
special use, we may surely dismiss
fear" said Mary. laughing and clap
ping her hands, but nearly ready for
tears Notwithstanding.
The ship was fine new one, well fit-
ted to breast any sea, and, learning
this, we at once agreed that upon land
ing in England Mary and should go
to London and win over the king, II
possible. We felt some confidence In
being able to do this, as we counted /
upon wolsey's help. but in case Of fail |
ure we still had our plans. Brandon
was to take the ship to certain island
Of the Suffolk coast and there await
Us the period Of year If need be, az
Mary might, in case Of Henry's obsu-
macy, be detained, then revictual and
remain the ship and out through the
North sea for their former haven, New
Spain.
In case of Henry's consent, how they
we're to live In style fit for a prin-
,ess Brandon did not know unless Hen
Y should open his heart and provide
or them, a doubtful contingency upon
which they did not base much hope.
1t a pinch they might 60 down into
suffolk and live next to Jane and me
N Brandon's estates. To this Mary
eadily agreed, and said it was what
he wanted above all else.
There was one thing now in favor Of
he kings acquiescenee. During the
asst three months Brandon had become
cry necessary to his amusement. and
was his greatest need and
i'm in life
Mary and I went to London to see
be king, having landed at Southamp-
On for the purpose of throwing off the ,
cent any one who might seek the ship. ,
he king was delighted to see his sis
r, and kissed her over and over again. =,
Mary had as hard game to play as ,
YER fell to the lot of woman. but she .
'as equal to the emergency if any wo-
ian ever was. She did not give Henry !.
lie slightest hint that she knew any
hing Of the Count of Savoy episode. .
ut calmly assumed that of course her !,
rother had meant literally what he !,
lid when he made the promise as to =
e second marriage.
The king soon asked: But what are
~ doing here? They have hardly !,
Tried Louis as yet, have they?" :
Il am sure do not know" answered
airy, "and l certainly care less. =
aried him only during his life and =
It for one moment afterward. so |
me away and left them to bury him =.
keep him. as they choose; / care not ~
hich.' "
But began Henry, when Mary in 80
rrupted him, saying, Il will tell you .,
had taken good care that Wolsey ~
ould be present at this interview. -
we four the king. Wolsey, Mary
myself-quietly stepped into lit =.
alcove away from the others and "
epared to listen to Mary's tale. which
IS told with all her dramatic elo- u,
ence and feminine responsiveness. ~
told Of the ignoble insults of Fran :. :.
OF his vile roposals-insisted up- -,
almost to the point Of force-care. y.
~ concealing, however, the offer to -
orce Claude and make her queen. ~.
len proposition might have had its ~
FACTIONS for Henry. She told Of her 49,
,risonment In the Palace des Tour 81
les and of her deadly peril and ~
ny indignities, and the tale lost o ",
hing In the telling. Then she fin. a,i
ed by throwing her arms around VS.
nry's neck in passionate flood of -
rs and begging him to protect her. "a "a.
ave her. save her, save her. his III. '.e
sister, OF
was all such perfect acting that r.
the time forgot it was acting. and ~
eat lump swelled nm in NV +hro. ALL