Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-06-12


the middle of the floor. 1t was jus
growing dark, and the room was quit
dim, save at the window where Bran
don sat reading. Gods, those were ex
citing moments! My heart beat like
woman's. Brandon saw the girls whel
they entered, but never SO much a
looked up from his book. You must re
member he had great grievance. Jam
and had remained near the door, ant
poor Mary was a pitiable princess
standing there SO full Of doubt in thu
middle Of the room. After momen
she stepped toward the window and
with quick coming breath, stopped a
the threshold of the little passage.
master Brandon, have come, not t.
make excuses. for nothing can excuse
me, but to tell you how 1t all happened
by trusting to another
Brandon arose and, marking the
place in his book with his finger, fol
lowed Mary, who had stepped back
ward into the room.
Your highness is very gracious and
kind thus to honor me- but as our ways
will hereafter lie as far apart as the
world is broad, think it would have
been far better had you refrained from
so imprudent visit, especially as any
thing one so exalted as yourself may
have to say can be no affair of such as
lone just free Of the hangman's
| moose"
"Oh, don't, pray you! Let me tell
you, and it may make difference. 1t
must pain you, know. to think of me
rs you do, after-after-you know; aft
er what has passed between U.S."
Eyes, that only makes it all the hard
er. If you could give your kisses"-and
she blushed red as blood-"to one for
whom you care so little that you could
word from you would have saved him,
what reason have to suppose they are
not for every MANI"
This gave Mary an opening OF which
she was quick enough to take advan
tage, for Brandon was in the wrong.
You know that is not true. You are
not honest with me nor with yourself
and that is not like you. You know that
no other man ever had, or could have,
any favor from me, even the slightest
Wantonness is not among my thousand
faults. 1t is not that which angers
you. You are sure enough of me in that
respect. In truth, l had almost come
to believe you were too sure, that had
grown cheap in your eyes, and you did
not care so much as / thought and
hoped for what had to give, for after
that day you came not near me at all.
know it was the part Of wisdom and
prudence that you should remain away,
but had you cared as much as your
prudence would not have held you"
She hung her head moment in 81.
lence, then, looking at him, almost
ready for tears, continued: "A man has
no right to speak in that way Of wo-
man whose little favors he has taken,
and make her regret that she has given
a gift only that it may recoil upon her.
Little did l say? Sir, do you know
what that-first-kiss was to me? Had
l possessed all the crowns Of all the
earth l would have given them to you
as willingly. Now you know the value
placed on 1t, however worthless 1t
was to you. Yet l was cheerful giver
of that gift, was not? And can you
find it In your heart to make Of it
shame to me-that of which l was SO
proudT"
She stood there, with head inclined a
little to one side, looking at him In
quiringly as If awaiting an answer. He
did not speak, but looked steadily at
his book. ! felt, however, that he was
changing, and was sure her beauty,
never more exquisite than in Its pres
ent humility, would yet atone for ev,l
so great fault as hers. Err, look beau
tiful and receive remission! Such
woman as Mary carries her indulgence
In her face.
/ now began to realize for the first
time the wondrous power of this girl,
and ceased to marvel that she had al
ways been able to turn even the king,
the most violent, stubborn man ON
earth, to her own wishes, Her manner
made her words eloquent. and already,
with true feminine tactics, she had put
Brandon in the wrong in everything
because he was wrong in part.
Then she quickly went over what she
had said to me. She told of her great
dread lest the king should learn Of the
visit to Grouche's and its fatal conse-
quences, knowing full well it would
render Henry impervious to her infiu.
ence and precipitate the French mar
riage. She told him of how she WAS
going to the king the day after the ar
rest to ask his release, and Of the meet !
ing with buckingham and his promise.
Still Brandon said nothing and stood
as if politely waiting for her to with
draw.
She remained silent little time, |
waiting for him to speak, when tears, |
partly Of vexation, think, moistened
her eyes.
"Tell me at least" she said, that
you know speak the truth. l have al
ways believed in you, and now / ask
for your faith. ! would not lie to you
In the faintest shading of thought
not for heaven itself-not even for your
love and forgiveness, much as they are
to me. and l want to know that you
are sure of my truthfulness. if you
doubt all else. You see speak plainly
Of what your love is to me. for al
though by remaining away you made
me fear had been too lavish with my
is every woman's fear-1
knew in my heart you loved me; that
rou could not have done and said what