The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-05-07
CHAPTER VIII-COntinued.

Eyes," answered Jane, with an IN
concern that surprised Mary, for she
knew Jane was coward from the top
Of 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 came here only to learn the
worst! Shall we ever get home alive,
do 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
by the arm.
1T is all over with US, 1 know.
would give everything I 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 o.
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 Mary
could interpose.
Now this disclosure operated in two
ways. Brandon's presence was, it is
true, just what Mary had so ardently
wished, but the danger and therefore
the need was gone when she found that
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 sighted 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 doing
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 it.
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 a
company or so of giants would be
mere pastime to him. Yet see how
she treated him. The girls had stopped
when Jane called 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 berumbing 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 ex-
clusively to yours"
This from the girl who had given
him so much within less than a 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- It was
not my fault. She had just said
Slap came Mary's hand on James
mouth, and Jane was marched off,
weeping bitterly.
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.
They had been walking not more
than five minutes when, just as the
girls turned corner into a secluded
little street, winding it's way among
the fish warehouses, four horsemen
passed Brandon in evident pursuit of
them. Brandon hurried forward, but
before he reached the corner heard
screams Of fright and as he turned in
to the street distinctly saw that two of
ing to overtake the fleeing girls Fright
lent wings to their feet, and, their short
skirts affording freedom to their limbs,
they were giving the pursuers a warm
little race, screaming at every step to
the full limit OF their voices. How
they did run and scream! 1t was but a
moment till Brandon came up with the
pursuers, who, all unconscious that
they in turn were pursued, did not ex-
pect an attack from the rear. The
men remaining on horseback shouted
an alarm to their comrades, but so in.
tent were the latter in their pursuit
that they did not hear. One of the men
on foot fell dead, pierced through the
back Of the neck by Brandon's sword,
before either was aware of his pres
ence. The other turned, but was a
corpse before he could cry out. The
girls had stopped a short distance
ahead, exhausted by their flight. Mary
had stumbled and fallen, but had risen
again. and both were now leanino