Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-05-08

tween Inem was TOO BTcuI unu o"S
knew too well what she owed to hei
position. There was but one thing left
New Spain, and he determined while
sitting there to sail with the next ship
The real cause Of Brandon's manner
had never occurred to Mary. Although
she knew her beauty and power, as she
could not help but know it-not a. q
matter Of vanity, but as matter OF
fact-yet love had blinded her where
Brandon was concerned, and that
knowledge failed to give her light 40 to
his motives, however brightly 1t 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. !. too, came In
for my share Of her Ill temper, a. most
certainly would Brandon had he al.
lowed himself to come within reach Of
her tongue. which he was careful no
to do. She did not tell Jane the cause
of her vexation, but only said she YER
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.
Brandon. tired of this everlasting
watchfuness to keep himself out OF
temptation and dreading at any mo
ment that lapse from strength which
II apt to come to the strongest OF US,
had resolved to quit his place at court
and 60 to New Spain at once. He had
learned upon inquiry that,a 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 pos
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. am not much Of
q Joseph and am very little given to
running away from beautiful wom-
an, but In this case l am fleeing from
death itself. And to think what
heaven 1t would be! You are right,
Caskoden-no man can withstand the
light of that girls smile. ! am unable
to tell how feel toward her. 1t some
times seems that 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
II be when she is the wife of the king
of France? Does it not look as II wild
life in New Spain is my only CHANGER
l assented as we joined hands. and
our eyes were moist as told him how
should miss him more than any one
else in all the earth-excepting Jane
in mental reservation.
l told Jane what Brandon was about
to do, knowing full well she would tell
Mary. which she did at once.
Poor Mary! The signs began to come
now, and such small vestiges Of her Ill
humor toward Brandon as still re-
manned were frightened off In 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 1t 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
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 ROBBED
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
" shared one couch. but during Mary's
III 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 weepingT she asked.
"Yes."
"What is the matter, dearT
Nothing" with a sigh.
"Do you wish me to come to your
bed?'
Eyes, do" So Jane went over and
lay beside Mary, who gently put her
arms about her neck.
when will he leaveT whispered
Mary, shyly confessing all by her ques-
ton.
II do not know" responded Jane,
"but he will see you before he goes"
"Do you believe he Wilt"
81 know It," And with this consola'
ton Mary softly wept herself to sleep.
After this, for few days, Mary was
quiet enough. Her irritable mood had
vanished, but Jane could see that she
was on the lookout for some one all
the time, although she made the most
pathetic little efforts to conceal her
watchfulness.
At last a meeting came about In this
-,nu. Nov% to tba kiup'e hpdchQmbor