Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-07-10

IN Y1HETHER or not Brandon WonlC
IN" have found some way to de
I5 liver the princess safely home
S1fsI and still make his escape
cannot say, as be soon had no choice II
the matter. At midnight body Of
yeomen from the Tower took possession
of the Bow and String and carried
Brandon off to London without commu
nication with Mary. She did not know
of his arrest until next morning, when
she was informed that she was to fol
low Immediately. and her heart was
nearly broken.
Here again was trouble for Mary
She felt, however, that the two great
questions, the marriage Of herself to
Louis, and Brandon to any other per
son, were, as she called 1t, settled,
and was almost content to endure this
as mere putting of Of her desires, a
meddlesome and impertinent interfer'
ence of the fates, who would soon
learn with whom they were dealing
and amend their conduct.
She did not understand the conse-
quences for Brandon, nor that the fates
would have to change their purpose
,ery quickly or something would hap.
pen worse even than his marriage to
another woman.
On the second morning after leaving
Bristol Brandon reached London and,
as he expected, was sent to the Tower.
The next evening Lady Mary arrived
and was taken down to Greenwich.
The girls fair name was of course
lost, but, fortunately, that goes for lit
tie with princess-since no one would
believe that Brandon had protected her
against himself as valiantly and honor
ably as he would against another. The
princess being much more unsophist-
Gated than the courtiers were ready to
believe never thought Of saying any
thing to establish her innocence or vir-
tue, and her silence was put down to
shame and taken as evidence against
her.
Jane met Mary at Windsor, and Of
course there was a great food Of tears.
Upon arriving at the palace the girls
were left to themselves, upon Mary's
promise not to leave her room, but by
the next afternoon she, having been
unable to learn anything concerning
Brandon. broke her parole and went
out to see the king.
1t never occurred to Mary that Bran
don might suffer death for attempting
to run away with her. She knew only
too well that she alone was to blame,
not only for that but for all that had
taken place between them, and never
for one moment thought that he might
be punished for her fault, even admit
ting there was fault in any one, which
she was by no means ready to do.
The trouble in her mind growing out
Of lack of news from Brandon was Of
a general nature, and the possibility Of
his death had no place in her thoughts.
Nevertheless for the second time Bran
don had been condemned to die for her
sake. The kings seal had stamped
the warrant for the execution and the
headsman had sharpened his Ak and
could almost count the golden fee for
his butchery.
Mary found the king playing cards
with De Longueville. There was q
roomful of courtiers, and as she en-
tered she was the target for every
eye, but she was on familiar ground
now and did not care for the glances
nor the observers, most Of whom she
despised. She was the princess again
and full Of self confidence, SO she went
straight to the object of her visit, the
king. She had not made up her mind I
Just what to say first. there was so
much, but Henry saved her the trou-
BILE. He. Of course. was in q great rage
and denounced Mary's conduct ~ un-
natural and reasonable. the latter, In
Heury's mind, being q crime many !