The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-06-17

il 1 did not care-or he did not. or
course he did not care or he would not
have behaved SO, knowing 1 WAS In 80
much trouble. 1 did not see him at all
after-one afternoon In the kings
about n week before that awful night
in London, except that night, when 1
was so frightened / could not speak
one word Of all the things L wished
to say"
This sounded strange enough, and 1
began more than ever to suspect some
thing wrong. 1, however, kept as firm
a grasp as possible upon the stock of
indignation L had brought with me.
How did you expect to see or hear
from him." asked l, "when he was ly-
Ing In n loatisome dungeon without
II ray of light, condemned to be
hanged, drawn and quartered because
of your selfish neglect to save him who
at the cost of half his blood and al
most his life had saved 80 much for
your"
Her eyes grew big, and the tears
were checked by genuine surprise.
l continued: LADY Mary, no one
could AVE made me believe that you
would stand back and let the man to
whom you owed so great II debt lie 80
long in such misery and be condemned
to such n death for the act that saved
you. i could never have believed It'll"
limp of hellY' screaA ed Mary. what
tale is this you bring to torture me?
Have not enough already? Tell me
1t is Il lie or L will have your miserable
little tongue tori II by the root!'
1T is no lie, princess, but an awful
truth and n frightful shame to YOU"
l was determined to tell her all and
let her see herself as she was.
She gave II hysterical laugh and,
throwing up her hands with her accus-
toned little gesture, fell upon the bed
In utter abandonment, shaking as with
Il spasm. She did not weep; she could
not; she was past that now. Jane went
ovcr to the bed and tried to soothe her.
In Il moment Mary sprang to her feet,
eXclaiming: Master Brandon con-
demned to death, and you md 1 here
talking and moaning and weeping!
Come, come; we will go to the king at
once. We will start to walk, Edwin-I
must be doing something and Jane
can follow with the horses and over
take us. No; l will not dress; just as
l am; this will do. Bring me a hat,
Janc-any onc any one" While put
ting OH hat and gloves she continued:
~ will see the king at once and tell
him all-all! 1 will do anything. 1
will marry that old king Of France or
forty kings or forty devils! It's all
one to me. Anything, anything, to
W him! Oh, to think that he has
been in that dungeon all this time!.'
And the tears came UNDECIDED In n del
uge.
She was under such Roadway and
spoke and moved so rapidly that 1
could not stop her until she was nearly
ready to go; then 1 held her by the arm
while 1 said:
at is not necessary now. You are
too late"
a look of horror came into her face,
and l continued slowly: II procured
Brandon's release nearly Il week ago.
L did what you should have done, and
he is now at our rooms IN Greenwich"
Mary looked at me Il moment and,
turning pale, pressed her hands 20 her
heart and leaned against the door
frame.
After a short silence she said: ed
win Caskoden-fool! Why could you
not have told me that at first? I
thought my brain would burn and my
heart burst"
~ should have told you had you Civ
en- me time. AS to the pain 1t gave
you'-thts was the last charge to my
large magazine of indignation-"I ARE
very little about that. You deserve 1t.
| do not know what explanation you
have to offer, but nothing can excuse
you. An explanation, however good,
would have been little comfort to O
had Brandon failed you in Blllingsgate
that night"
She had fallen into n chair by this
time and sat in %reveric, staring at moth
ing. Then the tears came again, but
more softly.
"Iou are right; nothing can excuse
me. i an the most selfish, ungrateful,
guilty creature ever born. A whole
month in that dungeonw And she
covered her dropping face with her
hands. sas.
go away for awhile, Edwin, and
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
II her eyes cast down.
you are surely right, Sir Edwin. I
have no excuse. 1 can have none but
I 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
rage without one thought OF me, as
If l were but a slave or a dumb brute
that could not feelY She began to
weep a little, but soon recovered her.
self. "While waiting for you to re.
turn the Duke of buckingham came in.
i knew Henry was trying to sell me to
the French king, and my heart was
full of t~rouble-from more causes than
you can know. All the council, espe-
cially that butchers son, were urging
him on, and Henry himself was anx.
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 a pretty figure! l hoped, though,
l should be able TO induce him not to
sacrifice me to his selfish interests, as
L have done before, but / knew only
too well Ii would tax nv powers To the