The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-06-16

J small party to go over to
Windsor fol a few weeks during the
warm weather.
There were ten or twelve of us, in
cluding two chaperons. the old Earl Of
Hertford and the dowager Duchess of
Kent. Henry might as well have sent
along a pair of spaniels to act as chap
erons-it would have taken an army
to guard Mary alone-and to tell you
the truth our old chaperons needed
watching more than any of us. 1t was
scandalous. Each of them had a touch
of gout, and when they made wry
faces it was a standing inquiry among
us whether they were leering at each
other or felt a twinge-whether 1t was
their feet or their hearts that troubled
them.
Mary led them a pretty life at all
times, even at home in the palace, and
1 know they would rather have gone
off with a pack of imps than with us.
The inducement was that 1t gave them
better opportunities to be together, an
arrangement connived at by the queen.
l think, and they were satisfied. The
earl had a wife, but he fancied the old
dowager and she fancied him, and
probably the wife fancied somebody
else, so they We're all happy. 1t great
ly amused the young people, you may
be sure. and Mary said. probably with
out telling the exact truth, that every
night she prayed God to pity and for
give their ugliness. One day the prin-
cess said she was becoming alarmed
Their ugliness was so intense she fear
ed il might be contagious and spread.
Then, with a most comical seriousness,
she added:
"Mon Dieu. Sir Edwin. what If I
should catch it? Master Charles would
not take me-"
mo danger of that, my lady. He Is
too devoted TO see anything but beauty
in you. no matter how much you might
change"
do you really think SO? He says
so little about 1t that sometimes ] al
| most doubt"
Therein she spoke the secret of Bran
don's success with her. at least in the
beginning. for there is wonderful po-
tency in the stimulus of a healthy lit
| tie doubt.
We had n delightful canter over to
Windsor. | riding with Mary most OF
| the way. | was not averse TO this ar
rangement. as l not only relished Ma
| rvs mirth and joyousness, which were
| at their height. but hoped might give
my little Lady Jane a twinge or tvs
OF jealousy, perchance to fertilize her
sentiments toward me.
| Mary talked and laughed and sang.
for her soul was a fountain of glad
ness that bubbled up the instant pres
sure was removed. She spoke of little
but our last trip over this same road,
and. as we passed objects on the way,
told me of what Brandon had said at
this place and that. She laughed and
dimpled exquisitely in relating how
she had deliberately made opportuni-
ties for him 10 fiatter her until at last
he smiled in her face and told her she
was the most beautiful creature liv-
ing, but that, after all, beauty was as
beauty did"
THAT made me angry" said she. 81
pouted for awhile and two or three
times was on the point of dismissing
him, but thought better of it and asked
him plainly wherein l did so mucl
amiss. Then what do you think tn,
impudent fellow saidY'
Il cannot guess"
"He said. oh, there is so much 4
would take lifetime to tell it.
This made me furious. but | couli
not answer, and a moment later III
said, Nevertheless I should be only
too glad to undertake the task
.'The thought never occurred to ei