The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-04-24

Thus they sat in silence. Brandon's
hand resting listlessly upon the cush-
ion between them. Mary saw the elo-
quent movement away from her and
his speaking attitude with averted face;
then the princess went into eclipse. and
the imperial woman was ascendant
once more. She looked at him for a
brief space with softening eyes. and,
lifting her hand, put 1t back in his, say
ing:
There 1t is again-if you want it"
Want it? All, this was too much!
The hand would not satisfy now. 1t
must be all, all! And he caught her to
his arms with a violence that fright
ened her.
please don't; please! Not this time!
All, have mercy. Charl- Well! There!
There! Mary mother, forgive mew
Then her woman spirit fell before the
whirlwind Of his passion, and she was
on his breast. with her white arms
around his neck. paying the same trib-
ute to the little blind god that he would
have exacted from the lowliest maiden
of the land.
Brandon held the girl for a moment
or two. then fell upon his knees and
buried his face In her lap.
Heaven help mel' he cried.
She pushed the hair back from his
forehead with her hand and as she
fondled the curls leaned over him and
softly whispered:
Heaven help us both. for I love
your
He sprang to his feet. "Don'ti Don't,
I pray YOU" he said wildly. and almost
ran from her.
Mary followed him nearly to the door
of the room, but when he turned he
saw that she had stopped and was
standing with her hands over her face.
| as IL in tears.
He went back to her and said. 81
tried to avoid this. and If you had
helped me it would never But he
remembered how he had always de-
| spised Adam for throwing the blame
upon Eve. no matter how much she
may have deserved it. and continued:
mo, I do not mean that 1t Is all
my fault. I should have gone away
long ago. l could not help 1t. / tried.
oh, triedr'
Mary's eyes were bent upon the
door. and tears were falling over her
flushed cheeks unheeded and uncheck-
| ed.
There ID no fault in any one. Nei-
ther could help it," she murmured.
"No, no; 1t is not that there is any
fault In the ordinary sense. 1t is like
suicide or any other great self inflicted
injury with me. 1 am different from
other men. / shall never recover"
n 81 know only too well that you are
different from other men, and-and I,
too, am different from other women.
Am notY'
"Ah, different! There is no other
woman in all this wide. long world" !"
And they were in each others arms
again. She turned her shoulder to
him and rested with the support of his
arms about her. Her eyes were cast
down I'm silence, and she was evident
ly thinking as she toyed with the lace
Of his doublet. Brandon knew her
varying expressions so well that he
saw there was something wanting, so
he asked:
''Is there something you wish to
sayg
mot l." she responded with EN-.
phasis on the pronoun.
Then it is something you wish me
to sayT'
She nodded her head slowly, "Yes."
"What Is 1t? Tell me, and will say
It"
She shook her head slowly, NO"
"What is it? / cannot guess"
did you not like to hear me say that
THAT I-loved your
"Ah, yes! You know II. But-oh!-
do you wish to hear me say itr'
The head nodded rapidly two ol
three times, yes" And the black
curving lashes were lifted for q fleet
ing, luminous instant
"It Is surely not necessary. You
have known it SO long already, but
am only too glad to say it love you
She nestled closer to him and hid bel
face on his breast.
"Now that have said 1t, what is my
reward?" he asked. and the fair face
came up, red and rosy, with rewards.
any one Of which was worth a kings
ransom.
But this Is worse than insanity
cried Brandon as he almost pushed hel
from him. "We can never belong to
each other. Neverr'
NO." said Mary. with a despairins
shake Of the head. as the tears begaI
to flow again. NO. neverr' And fall
ing upon his knees he caught both he
hands In his. sprang to his feet anC
ran from the room.
Her words showed him the chasn
anew. She saw the distance between
them even better than he. Evidently
1t seemed farther looking down thar
looking up. There was nothing lef
now but flight.
He sought refuge in his own apart
ments and wildly walked the floor. ex
claiming: Fool. fool that l am to lay
up this store OF agony to last me al
my days, Why did ever come to thii
court? God pity me-pity mew AND
he fell upon his knees at the bed, bury
ing his face in his arms. his might,
mans frame shaking as with a palsy.
That same night Brandon told me
how he had committed suicide, as hs
put 1t. and of his intention to go tt
Bristol and there await the sailing oi
the ship and perhaps find partial res
direction in New Spain.
Unfortunately. he could not start fol
Bristol at once. as he had given some
challenges for tournament at Rich
mond and could furnish no good excuse
to withdraw them, but he would no
leave his room or again see that gir
who was driving him mad"
1t was better. he thought, and wise