The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-05-22

ready to go: then held her by the arm
while said:
"It is not necessary now. You are
too late"
A look OF horror came into her face.
and | continued slowly: Il procured
Brandon's release nearly a week ago.
l did what you should have done, and
he is now at our rooms in Greenwich"
Mary looked at me moment and,
turning pale. pressed her hands to her
heart and leaned against the door
frame.
After a short silence she said: Ed
win Caskoden-fool, Why could you
not have told me that at first?
thought my brain would burn and my
heart burst"
IL should have told you had you CIV
en- me time. As to the pain it gave
you"-this was the last charge to my
large magazine of indignation-"I care
very little about that. You deserve it.
/ do not know what explanation you
have TO offer, but nothing can excuse
you. An explanation. however good,
would have been little comfort to you
had Brandon failed you in Billingsgate
that night"
She had fallen into a chair by this
time and sat In reverie. staring at moth
| Ing. Then the tears came again, but
more softly.
| "You are right; nothing can excuse
me. / am the most selfish, ungrateful,
guilty creature ever born. A whole
month in that dungeonv' And she
covered her dropping face with her
hands.
go away for awhile. Edwin, and
then return. We shall want to see you
again." said Jane.
Upon my return Mary was more
composed. Jane had dressed her hair
and she was sitting on the bed I'm her
riding habit. hat in hand. Her fingers
were nervously toying at the ribbons
and her eyes cast down.
You are surely right. Sir Edwin.
have no excuse. ! can have none. but
l will tell you how it was. You re
member the day you left me in the
waiting room of the kings council
when they We're discussing my mar
riage without one thought of me, as
II l We're but a slave or a dumb bruts
that could not feel?" She began I,
weep a little, but soon recovered her
self. "While waiting for you to re
turn the Duke OF buckingham came in
! knew Henry was trying to sell me t.
the French king. and my heart wa,
full of trouble-from more causes thar
you can know. All the council. espe
cially that butchers son, were urgin;
him on, and Henry himself was anx
ious that the marriage should b.
brought about. He thought it woul,
strengthen him for the imperial crown
He wants everything and is ambition
to be emperor. Emperor, He woul
cut a pretty figure! I hoped. though
should be able 10 induce him not I
sacrifice me to his selfish interests, u
have done before, but ] knew onl
too well 1t would tax my powers to til
utmost this time. I knew that IL di
anything to anger or to antagoniZe hiI
. II would be all at an end with me. Yo
know he Is so exacting with other pee
pies conduct for one who is so careles
, | of his own-so virtuous by proxy. 70
. ! remember how cruelty he disgrace
and crushed poor Lady Chesterfield
! | who was II. such trouble about her hu:
band and who went TO Grouche's onl
, TO learn IL he were true to her. Henr
] seems to be particularly sensitive
: that direction. One would think
I | was In the commandments, Thou sha
| not go to Grouche's.'
: "Well, / knew / could do nothin
1 with Henry II he once learned of ths
visit, especially as it resulted so Z;
I tally. oh, why did l go? Why did
: 20? That was why | hesitated to te
n Henry at once. ! was hoping some otl
Z er way would open whereby l migl
save Charles-Master Brandon. Viii
r was waiting along came the Duke (
= Buckingham. aud as l knew he W;
4 popular In London and had almost |
@ | much influence there as the king
g | thought came to me that he might he
O | US.
l. II knew that b and Master Brandc
IT had passed q few angry words at oil
time IN my ballroom-you remember
= but also knew that the duke was in
In love with me. you know. or preten
e ed to be-he always said he was-and
n felt sure I could by little hattery
o duce him to do anything. He was ;
10 ways protesting that he would gil