The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-05-27

49, tho
path attircd In the short skirts and bon
nets of u girls and let themselves
out at the gate. buckingham followed
them, and Brandon quickly followed
him. The girls passed through a little
postern in the wall opposite Bridewell
House and walked rapidly up Fleet
ditch, climbed Ludgate hill, passed
Paul's church, turned toward the river
down Bennett hill, to the left on
Thames street, then OIL past the bridge,
following Lower Thames street to the
neighborhood of Fish street hill, where
they took an alley leading up toward
East Cheap to Grouche's house.
1t was n brave thing for the girl to
do and showed the determined spirit
that dwelt in her soft white breast.
Aside from II real dangers, there was
enough to deter II woman, 1 should
think.
Jane wept all the way over, but Mary
never fiinched.
There were great mudholeu where
one sank ankle deep, for no one paved
the street at that time, strangely
enough, preferring to pay the sixpence
fine per square yard for leaving 1t IN
done. At II place, Brandon told me-,
a load of hay blocked the streets, COM
polling them to squeeze between the
houses and the hay. He could hardly
believe the girls had passed that way,
as he had not always been able to keep
them in view, but had sometimes to
follow them by watching Buckingham.
He, however, kept as close as posi-
bic and presently saw them turn down
Grouche's alley and enter his house.
Upon learning where they had stop
ped, Buckingham hurriedly took him
self Off, and Brandon waited for the
girls to come out. 1t seemed q very
long time that they were In the wretch
ed place, and darkness had well de-
scended upon London when they
emerged.
Mary o noticed. that n man was
following them, and rs she did not
know who he was became greatly
alarmed. The object of her journey
had been accomplished now, so the
spur Of Il strong motive to keep her
courage up vas lacking.
"Jane, some one Is following u.s." she
whispered.
YES" answered Jane, with an un-
concern that surprised Mary, for she
knew Jane was n coward from the top
Of her brown head to the tip of her
little pink heels.
ooh, if 1 had only taken your ad-
vice, Jane, and had never come to
this wretched place! And to think,
too, that 1 came here only to learn the
worst! Shall we ever get home alive,
do you thinkl"
They hurried OH, the man behind
them taking less care to remain unseen
than he did when coming. Mary's
fears grew upon her as she heard his
step and saw his form persistently fol-
lowing them, and she clutched Jane
by the arm.
ut is all over with us, l know. I
would give everything I have or over
expect to have OH earth for-fOr Mas
ter Brandon at this moment" She
thought of him as the one person best
able to defend her.
This was only too welcome an op-
portunity, and Jane said: THAT Is
Master Brandon following us. II we
wait a few seconds, he will be here"
And she called to him before Mary
could i%ntcrpose.
Now this disclosure operated In two
ways. BraldOn's presence was, 1t Is
true, just what Mary had 80 ardently
wished, but the danger and therefore
the need was gone when she found that
the man who was following them had
no evil intent. Two thoughts quickly
flashed through the girls mind. She
was angry with Brandon for having
cheated her out Of SO many favors and
for having sighted her love, as she
had succeeded in convincing herself
was II case, all of which Grouche had
confirmed by telling her he was false.
Then she had been discovered In doing
what she knew she should have left
undone and what size was anxious to
conceal from every one, and, worst Of
all, had been discovered by the very
person from whom she was most anx-
ious to hide 1T.
So she turned upon Jane angrily:
Jane BolingDrokc, you shall leave me
as as we get back to Greenwich
for this betrayal Of my CONFIDENCE"
She was not afraid now that the dan
ger was over, and feared no new dan
ger with Brandon at hand to protect
her, for In her heart she felt that to
overcome y few fery dragons and n
company or sc of giants would be n
mere pastime to him. Yet see how
she treated him. The girls had stopped
when Jane called Brandon, and he was
at once by their side with uncovered
head, hoping for and Of course expect
Ing n warm welcome. But even Bran.
don, with his fund of worldly phIlos.
Ophy. had not learned not to pu. his
trust In princesses, and his surprise
was benumbing when Mary turned
angrily upon him.
"Master Brandon, your impudence in
following us shall cost you dearly. We
do not desire your company, and will
thank you to leave us to our own af-
fairs, rs we wish you to attend ex-
cluslvcly to yours"
This from the girl who had given
him so much within less than q week!
Poor Brandon!
Jane, who had called him up and
was the cause Of his following them,
began to weep.
"Slr," said she, forgive mo. 1t was
not my fault. She had just said
Slap came Mary's hand on James
mouth, and Jane was marched of,
weeping bitterly.
The girls had started up toward East
Cheap when they left Grouche'a. in
tending to so home by an upper route,
and now they walked rapidly In that
direction. Brandon continued 10 fol.