Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-05-25

block and Mary's heart bruised. broken
and empty for life. Her strong nature,
filed TO the brim with latent passion.
was the stun OF which love makes
conhagration that burns to destruc-
tian. and should she learn to love Bran
don she would move heaven aud earth
10 possess him.
She whose every desire from child
hood up had been gratified. whose
every within seemed to her a para
mount necessity. would stop at moth
ing when the dearest wish a woman's
heart can coin was to be gained or lost
Brnndon's element Of prudence might
help him and might forestall any eff
fort OH his part TO win her. but Mary
had never heard OF prudence, and
mans caution avails but little when
set against woman's daring. In case
they both should love they were sure
10 try for each other and I'm trying were
equally sure to find ruin and desola-
ton.
A few evenings after this I met the
princess in the queens drawing room.
She beckoned me to her and, resting
her elbows on the top OF a cabinet, her
chin in her hands. said: 81 met your
friend, Captain Brandon, a day or two
ago. Did he tell you?"
mo-" l answered. "Jane told me,
but he has not mentioned it."
1t was true Brandon had not said a
word Of the matter, and had not
ni II TOD 70
how long he would remain silent con-
corning an adventure that would have
set most men of the court Boosting at
a great rate. To have a tilt with the
ever victorious Mary and to come of
victor was enough, l think, to loosen
any tongue less given to Dragging than
Brandon's.
So continued Mary, evidently
somewhat piqued, "he did not think his
present9 ton to me thing worth men,
tioning? We had a little passage at
arms, and, to tell you the truth, came
off second best and had to acknowledge
it too. Now, what do you think of this
new friend of yours? And he did not
boast about having the better of me-
lence than l at first thought" And she
threw back her head and clapped her
hands and laughed with the most con-
tagious little ripple you ever heard She
seemed not to grieve over her defeat,
but dimpled as though it were a huge
joke, the thought of which rather
pleased her than otherwise. Victory
had grown stale for her, although SO
young.
What do l think of my new friends"
l repeated after her, and that gave me
n theme upon which | could enlarge
eloquently. l told her of his learning,
Notwithstanding the fact that he had
been in the continental wars ever since
he was boy. 1 repeated to her stories
of his daring and bravery that had
been told to me by his uncle, the mas
ter of the horse, and others, and then
l added what l knew Lady Jane had
already said. l had expected to be
brief, but to my surprise found close
and interested listener, even to the
twice told parts, and drew my story
out little, to the liking of us both.
Your friend has an earnest advocate
In you, Sir Edwin" said the princess.
THAT he has," l replied. There is
nothing too good to say of him."
1 knew that Mary, with her better,
clearer brain, held the king almost in
the palm of her hand, so thought to
advance Brandon's fortune by a timely
word.
II trust the king will see fit to favor
him, and 1 hope that you will speak a
word in his behalf should the opportu-
nifty occur"
What, in the name of heaven, have
we to give him?" cried Mary impa-
tiently, for she kept an eye on things
political, even If she were only q girl.
1.-THE king has given away everything
that can be given already, and now
that the war is over and men are COM
ing home there are hundreds waiting
for more. My fathers great treasure is
squandered, to say nothing of the mon
ey collected from Empson, Dudley and
the other commissioners There is moth
ing to give unless it be the titles and
estate of the late Duke of Suffolk.
Perhaps the king will give these to
your paragon if you will paint him in
as fair light as you have drawn him
for me-" Then, throwing back her
head, with laugh, ASK him.
at would be none too much for his
deserts" l replied, falling in with her
humor.
1--WE will so arrange 1t, then" went
on Mary banteringly, "CaDtain Bran
don no longer, but Charles Brandon,
duke of Suffolk. How sounds 1t, Mas
ter Caskoden?"
Sweet in my ears" replied.
Il really believe you would have the
kings crown for him, you absurd man,
If you could get it. We must have so
interesting a person at court. l shall
at least see that he is presented to the
queen at once. / wonder if he dances.
II r l. L.