The San Francisco call., 1903-01-18

by enlisting with the captain. man
named Bradhurst, at Bristol. where the
ship is now lying. There is where en-
listed by letter But why do you ask?'
oh. only wanted to know
We talked While on various TOPICS
but Mary always brought the conyersa-
ton back to the same subject. the Royal
Hind and New Spain. After asking many
questions she sat in silence for time,
and then abruptly broke into one OF my
sentences-she was always interruptlhg
me - if ! were parrot
Il have been thinking and have MADE
mp my mind what ] will do, and you shall
not olssuaoe me. viii go 70 New SPAN
with you That VIII be giorious-Iar Del
ter than the humdrum life OF sitting AZ
home-and will solve the whole question.
But that would oe impossible. Mary
said Brandon. into whose face TINS new
evidence Of her regard had brought a
Frightening look: utterly impoSslble- 10
begin with no woman could stand me
voyage. not even YOU. strong ana NlSof-
Ous as you are"
oh yes. } can and ] viii not allow
you 10 stop me foI that reason. ! coulu
tear any hardship better than lpe toi
ture Of the last few weeks: ~ truth. 1
CanGCt beai this at ali; II is killing me-
so what would II he when you are gone
and | am the wife of l>Ous2 Ihlnk OF
that. Charles Brandon: think OF that:
when ! am the wife Of Lou-s- EN9n II
the voyage kills me. l might as Wen ole
one WAY as another, ana then shou.u Ue
with you. where 81 were sweet to d-e.
this foolish talk
Brandon insisted: but no women are
going. As 7 told YOU. they would net
rake one: besides how could you escape?
] viii answer the first question YOU ever
asked ne. You aIc of 'suflcient cons'd-
Grafton about the court for al your
movements 20 attract pot oe- ~ - IN IN
possible. We must rot think OF ii; II can
not he done. Why build up hopes only
to b cast down.
''Oh hut II can he done: never doubt 1t.
i have planned AL the details while sit
ting here. Tomorrow ] will send TO Bris
tCl Il sum Of money ASKING a separate
room in the ship for d young nobleman
who wishes 10 60 to New Spain incogn:to.
and will 90 aboard just before they sail.
I viii buy mans complete OUTFIT. and
viii practice being man before you and
Sir Edwin Here she bluShed SO that |
could see the scarlet even in the gather
ing gloom She continued: LAS to my
escape, ] can 90 To Windsor, and then
perhaps on TO Berkeley Castle. over by
Reading. where there will be no one TO
watch me. You can leave at once, and
there viii be no cause for them 10 spy
upon me when you are gone, so II can
be done easily enough. That is il: / will
go to my sister. who is now at Berkeley
Castle. the other side Of Reading. you
know. and that will make a shorter ride
TO Bristol when we start"
The thought of course. could not but
please Brandon. to whom. in the warmth
of Marys ardor it had almost begun TO
offer hope. And he said musingly: Il
wonder If Il could be done2 If II could
If we could reach New Spain we might
build ourselves a home in the beautiful
green mountains and hide ourselves safe
ly away from all the world in the lap of
some coy valley. rich with natures bOun-
teous gift Of fruit and flowers. shaded
from the hot sun and sheltered from the
blasts. and live in little paradise OF our
own What glorious dream; but 1t Is
only a dream. and We had better awake
from II"
Brandon must have been insane!
No, no 1t is not dream" interrupt
ed downright, determined Mary; lit is
not dream; II shall be a reality. How
glorious il will be; l can see our little
house now nesting among he hills. shad-
ed by great spreading trees with flowers
and vines and golden fruit all about it.
rich plumaged birds and gorgeous butter
flies. OH ! can hardly wait. Who would
live in musty palace when they have
within reach such a home, and that, too,
with yOu?'
Here it was agin. / thought that in
terTiew would be the death Of me.
Brandon held his face in his hands. and
then looking up said: 1T is only a ques-
ton of your happiness. and hard as the
voyage and your life over there would be.
Yet I believe IT would be better than life
with Louis of France. Nothing could be
so terrible as that to both OF US. If you
wish TO go ] will try to take you, though
I die in the attempt. There will be am
pie time 70 reconsider. so that you can
turn back il you wish
Her reply was inarticulate, though sat
isfactory; and she took his hand in hers
as the tears ran gently down her checks;
this time tears Of Joy-the first she had
shed for many a day.
In the Siren country again without wax
Overheard and lost
Yes, BrandOn's resolution not to see
Mary was well taken, if it could
only have been as well kept Observe
as we progress, into what the breaking of
il led him.
He had known that if he should but see
her once more his already toppling will
would lose it's equipoise and he would be
led to attempt the impossible and invite
destruction. At first his scheme appeare
to me In it's true light. but Mary's subtle
feminine logic made ii seem such plain
and easy sailing that l soon began to
draw enthusiasm from her eXhaustless
store, and our combined attack upon
Brandon eventually routed every vestige
of caution and common sense that even
he had left
Siren logic has always been irresistible
and will continue so, no doubt, despite
experience.
1 cannot define what it was about Mary
that made her little speeches, half
gumentative, all-pleading, so wonderfully
persuasive. Her facts were mere fancieS
and her logic was not even good
sophistry. AS to real argument and rea-
sOning there was nothing of either in
them. 1t must have been her native
strength Of character and intensely Wig
orous personality; some unknown force
Of nature. operating through her occultly,
that turned the channels of other per-
sons thoughts and filed them with her
own will There was magic in her power,
I am certain, but unconscious magic to
Mary, L am equally sure. She never
would have used it knowingly.
There was still another obstacle to
which Mary administered her favorite
remedy. the Gordian knot treatment.
Brandon said: 1T cannot be; you are
not my wife, and we dare not trust d
priest here TO unite us"
NO" replied Mary. with hanging head,
but we can-can find one over there"
Il do not know how that will be; we
shall probably not find one; at least,
fear: do not know"
After a little hesitation she answered:
81 viii go with you anyway-and-and
risk it. / hope we may find priest"
and she flushed scarlet from her throat
to her hair.
Brandon kissed her and said: You
shall 20, my brave girl. You make me
blush for my faint-heartedness and pru-
dence. l will make you my wife In some
way sure there is a Cod
Soon after this Brandon forced himself
10 insist on her departure, and l went
with her full of hope and completely
blinded to the dangers of our cherished
scheme. ] think Brandon never really
lost sight of the danger and almost in
finite proportion Of chance against this
wild, reckless venture, but was daring
enough to attempt IL even in the face of
Quences.
What cae,,oc 70 l,o bravor,, os a., Hor,,,,