Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-10-26
CHAPTER XXI.

never TO permit her to come WITHIN
sight OF King Henry again II I could
prevent H. ] then went up to London
with the twofold purpose OF seeing
Brandon and reslgning my place as
master OF the dance.
When presented myself TO the king
and told him OF my marriage. he flew
into n great passion because we had
not asked his consent. One of his
whims was that every one must ask
his permission to do anything-to eat
or sleep or say ones prayers, especially
20 marry. II the lady was Of degree
entitled 10 be a kings ward. Jane.
fortunately, had no estate, the kings
father having stolen II from her when
she was an infant; so all the king could
do about our marriage was to grumble,
which / let him do to his hearts con-
tent
81 wish also TO thank your majesty
for the thousand kindnesses you have
shown me-" | said. land. although II
grieves me to the heart to separate
from you. circumstances compel me to
tender my resignation as your master
OF dance" Upon this he was kind
enough TO express regret and ask me
TO reconsider. but | stood my ground
firmly, and then and there ended my
official relations with Henry Tudor for
ever
Upon taking my leave of the king I
sought Brandon. whom | found COM
fortably ensconced in our old quarters,
he preferring them to much more pre-
4. Nffn Inn N n
other part Of the palace. The king had
given him some new furnishings for
them. and, as l was to remain n few
days to attend to some matters of busi-
ness, he invited me to share his COM
fort with him, and gladly did so.
Those few days with Brandon were
my farewell to individuality. There
after | was to be 80 mysteriously in
termingled with Jane that was only
a part and small part at that, fear
of two. did not, OF course, regret
the change. since 1t was the one thing
in life | most longed for yet the period
was tnged with faint sentiment Of
pathos Mt parting from the old life that
had been so kind to me and which
was leaving forever. l say | did not
regret IL, and. though l was leaving
my old haunts and companions and
friends so dear TO me, / was finding
them all again In Jane. who was friend
as well as wife.
Mary's letter was In one OF my boxes
which had been delayed, and Jane was
to forward II to me when Ii should
come. When | told Brandon Of it.
dwelt with emphasis upon its bulk,
and he. OF course. was delighted and
impatient to have II. had put the
thing else which Mary had sent to him
that l had carried with me. 1t was a
sum OF money sufficient to pay the debt
against his fathers estate and, in ad-
dition, to buy some large tracts of land
adjoining. Brandon did not hesitate
to accept the money and seemed glad
that 1t had come from Mary, she, doubt
less, being the only person from whom
he would have taken 1t.
One OF Brandon's sisters had mar
ried a rich merchant at Ipswich, and
another was soon to marry a Scotch
gentleman. The brother would prob
ably never marry, so Brandon would
eventually have to take charge Of the
estates. In fact, he afterward lived
there many years, and, as Jane and I
had purchased a little estate near by,
which had been generously added to
by James uncle, we saw a great deal
of him. But am getting ahead of my
story again.
The DAngouleme complication trou.
bled me greatly. notwithstanding my
faith In Mary, and although I had re
solved to say nothing to Brandon abou,
T. l soon told him plainly what
bought and feared.
He replied with a low. contented lit
lie laugh.
"Do not fear for Mary. I do not
that young fellow is OF different stuff
know, from the old king. but have
II faith in her purity and ability tC
axe care OF herself. Before she lef
he promised to be true to me, what
ver befcll. and / trust her entirely
am not so unhappy by any means AZ
ne would expect. Am /? And wa
compelled 10 admit that he certainly
Eas not
So IL seems they had met. as Jan,
nd I suspected. but how Mary manag
j It am sure cannot tell. She bea
be very deuce for having her owl
lay. by hoo or by crook. Then cam,
be bulky letter which Brandon pounc
] upon and eagerly devoured. leav,
1t most OF The sentimental passages
hich. like effervescent wine, lose ia
pr quickly. She said, in part:
D Master Brandon:
Sir and Dear Friend. Greeting-Afte
aving thee. long time had / that might,
ief and dole within my heart that 4
as like 20 break. for my separation from
zee was 80 much harder 10 bear ever
an had taken thought OF. and I ais
ubted me that could live in Paris. a
did wish. Sleep rested not upon m
barry eyes. and OF a very deed could
ither eat nor drink. since food distaste,
like a nausea and wine did strangl
Al uwR ~,