Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-06-22

There aCds but one thing left-Nelo Spain.
could not help but know it-not as q
matter Of vanity, but as a matter Of
fact-yet love had blinded her where
Brandon was concerned, and that
knowledge failed to give her light as to
his motives, however brightly it might
illumine the conduct of other men to-
ward whom she was Indifferent
So Mary was angry this time-angry
In earnest-and Jane felt the irritable
palm more than once. l. too, came in
for my share Of her i'll temper, as most
certainly would Brandon had he al
lowed himself to come within reach of
her tongue, which he was careful not
to do. She did not tell Jane the cause
of her vexation. but only said she ver-
lily hated Brandon. and that, Of course,
was the key to the whole situation.
After fortnight this ill humor be-
gan to soften in the glowing warmth
of her heart, which was striving to
reassert itself. and the desire to see
Brandon began to get the better of
her sense of injury.
al dAdOl, vi ILLS everlasting
watchfulness to keep himself out of
temptation and dreading at any mo-
ment that lapse from strength which
Is apt to come to the strongest Of us,
had resolved to quit Lis place at court
and go to New Spain at once. He had
learned upon inquiry that ship would
sail from Bristol in about twenty days
and another six weeks later. So he
chose the former and was making his
arrangements to leave as soon as DOS
sible
He told me of his plans and spoke of
his situation. "You know the reason
for my going" he said, 'even if l have
never spoken of it. l am not much Of
a Joseph and am very little given to
running away from a beautiful wom-
an, but in this case 1 am fleeing from
death itself. And to think what a
heaven it would be! You are right
Caskoden-nO man can withstand the
light of that girls smile. 1 am unable
to tell how 1 feel toward her. 1t some
times seems that 1 cannot live another
hour without seeing her. Yet, thank
God, have reason enough left to know
that every sight of her only adds to an
already incurable malady. What will
1t be when she is the wife Of the king
of France? Does it not look as if wild
life in New Spain is my only chance?
l assented as we joined hands, and
our eyes were moist as 1 told him how
should miss him more than any one
oil in, oil ho
in mental reservation.
told Jane what Brandon was about
to do. knowing full we'll she would tell
Mary, which she did at once.
Poor Mary! The sighs began to come
now, and such small vestiges of her i'll
humor toward Brandon as still re-
/ manned were frightened off in a hurry
by the fear that she had seen the last
of him.
She had not before fully known that
she loved him. She knew he was the
most delightful companion she had
ever met and that there was an ex-
hilaration about his presence which al
most intoxicated her and made life an
ecstasy, yet she did not know it was
love. 1t needed but the thought that
she was about to lose him to make her
know her malady and meet it face to
face.
Upon the evening when Mary learn
ed all this she went into her chamber
very early and closed the door, No
one interrupted her until Jane went In
to robe her for the night and to retire
She then found that Mary had robe
herself and was lying in bed with her
head covered, apparently asleep. Jane
quietly prepared to retire and lay
down in her own bed. The girls usual
ly shared one couch, but during Mary's
I'll temper she had forced Jane to sleep
alone.
After a short silence Jane heard a
sob from the other bed, then another
and another.
MARY. are you weeping?" she asked.
Eyes"
what is the matter, dearY'
Nothing" with a sigh.
''Do you wish me to come to your
bedg
"Yes. do" So Jane went over and