Cañon City record., 1903-12-17

long time that they We're in the wretch.
ed place. and darkness had well de
scended upon London when they
emerged
Mary soon noticed that a man was
following them. and as she did not
know who he was became greatly
alarmed. The object of her journey
had been accomplished now, so the
spur of strong motive to keep her
courage up was lacking.
Jane. some one is following u.s." she
whispered.
Yes" answered Jane. with an un-
concern that surprised Mary. for she
knsw Jane was a coward from the top
q her brown head to the tip of her
little pink heels.
.Oh. If I had only taken your ad-
vice, Jane. and had never come to
this wretched place! And to think.
too. that l came here only to learn the
worst. Shall we ever get home alive
10 you think?"
They hurried on, the man behind
them taking less care to remain unseen
than he did when coming. Mary's
fears grew upon her as she heard his
step and saw his form persistently fol-
lowing them, and she clutched Jane
hy the arm.
TT is all over with us, l know. !
would give everything l have or ever
expect to have on earth for-for Mas,
ter Brandon at this moment" She
thought of him as the one person best
able to defend her.
This was only too welcome an op-
portunity, and Jane said: THAT is
Master Brandon following Us. If we
wait few seconds, he will be here"
And she called to him before Marx
could interpoSc.
Now this disclosure operated in tw
ways. BraLdon's presence was. it
true. just what Mary had SO ardent.
wished, but the danger and therrfs"
ths need was gone when she found tina
the man who was following them had
no evil intent. Two thoughts quickly
flashed through the girls mind She
was angry with Brandon for having
cheated her out of so many favors and
for having slighted her love. as she
had succeeded in convincing herself
was the case. all Of which Grouche had
confirmed by telling her he was false
Then she had been discovered in doinl
what she knew she should have left
undone and what she was anxious to
conceal from every one. and, worst Of
all, had been discovered by the very
person from whom she was most anx
ious to hide 1t.
So she turned upon Jane angrily
"Jane Bolingbroke, you shall leave me
as soon as we get back to Greenwich
for this betrayal Of my confidence"
She was not afraid now that the dan
ger was over. and feared no new dan
ger with Brandon at hand to protect
her, for in her heart she felt that to
overcome few fiery dragons and u
company or so of giants would be
mere pastime to him. Yet see how
she treated him. The girls had stopped
when Jane ca,led Brandon, and he was
at once by their side with uncovered
head, hoping for and of course expect
ing warm welcome. But even Bran
don, with his fund of worldly philos
ophy. had not learned not to put his
trust in princesses. and his surprise
was benumbing when Mary turned
angrily upon him.
Master Brandon, your impudence in
following us shall cost you dearly. We
do not desire your company, and will
thank you to leave us to our own af
fairs. as we wish you to attend e.:
clusively to yours"
This from the girl who had given
him SO much within less than week.
Poor Brandon.
Jane. who had called him up and
was the cause OF his following them
began to weep.
''Sir." said she. forgive me. 1t was
r"' my fault. She had Just said'
: ~" Mary's hand on James
inouih. Id lane was marched off
weeping bits. rly.
The girls had started up toward East
Cheap when they left Grouche's, in
tending to go home by an upper route.
and now they walked rapidly in that
direction. brandon continued to fol
low them. Notwithstanding what Mary
had said. and she thanked him and her
God ever after that he did
hpI III