Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-04-24


was altogether too fertile in expedients
for us. There seemed no way to con-
quer this girl. Her resources were so
inexhaustible that in the moment of
your expected victory success was
turned into defeat: nay more. ride
ulous disaster.
We found Jane crouching on the floor
in a corner half dead with fright from
the noise and tumut. and where do
you think we found her mistress?
Frightened? Not at all She was ly-
ing in bed with her face to the wall as
cool as January morning, her cloth
ing in n little heap in the middle of the
room.
Without turning her head. she ex-
claimed: "Come in, brother. You are
quite welcome. Bring in your friends.
l am ready to receive them, though not
in court attire as you see" And she
thrust her bare arm straight up from
the bed to prove her words You
should have seen the Frenchman's lit
tie black eyes gloat on its beauty.
Mary went on, still looking toward
the wall, 81 will arise and receive you
all informally if you will but wait"
This disconnected the imperturbable
Henry, who was about at his wits end.
"Cover that arm. you hussy" he
cried in flaming rage.
BE not impatient, brother mine!
will jump out in just a moment"
A little scream from Jane startled ev-
erybody, and she quickly ran up to the
1T Z, ho, 10
go. She will do as she says so sure as
you remain. You don't know her. She
is very angry. Please go. will bring
her downstairs somehow"
"Ah, indeed! Jane Bolingbroke," came
from the bed 81 will receive my
guests myself when they are kind
enough to come to my ROOM" The COW
erlid began to move, and whether or
not she was really going to carry out
her threat l cannot say, but Henry,
knowing her too we'll to risk it, hurried
us all out of the room and marched
downstairs at the head of his defeated
cohorts. He was swearing in way
to make a priests flesh creep and pro-
testing by everything holy that Mary
should be the wife of Louis or die. He
went back to Mary's room at intervals,
but there was enough persistence in
that one girl to stop the wheels of time,
if she but set herself to do it, and the
king came away from each visit the
victim of another rout.
Finally his anger cooled, and he be-
came amused. From the last visit he
came down laughing.
81 shall have to give up the fight or
else put my armor on with visor down."
said he ut is not safe to go near her
without it. She is very vixen, and
but now tried to scratch my eyes out"
Wolsey. who had a wonderful knack
for finding the easiest means to n diff
ficult end, took Henry off to a window,
where they held a whispered conversa-
ton.
1t was pathetic to see mighty king
and his great minister of state consult
ing and planning against one poor girl,
and as angry as felt toward Mary,
could not help plying her and admired
beyond the power of pen to write the
valiant and so far impregnable defense
she had put up against an array of
strength that would have made king
tremble on his throne.
Presently Henry gave one of his
loud laughs and slapped his thigh as
If highly satisfied with some PROPOSE
ton of Wolsey's.
snake ready at once" he said. 1--WE
will go back to London"
In a short time we were all at the
main stairway ready to mount for the
return trip.
The Lady Mary's window was just
above, and saw Jane watching us as
we rode away
After we were we'll out of Mary's
sight the king called me to him, and he,
together with De Longueville. Wolsey
and myself, turned our horses heads,
rode rapidly by circuitous path back
to another door of the castle and re-
entered without the knowledge of any
Of the inmates.
We four remained in silence, en-
Joined by the king. and in the course
of an hour the princess, supposing ev-
cry one had gone, came downstairs and
walked into the room where we were
waiting.
1t was a scrlrvy trick. and felt a
contempt for the men who had planned
1t. | could see that Mary's first i'm
pulse was to beat a hasty retreat back
into her citadel, the bed, but in truth
she had in her makeup very little dis
position to retreat. She was clear grit
What man she would have made!
But what a crime it would have been
In nature to have spoiled so perfect
woman. How beautiful she wasl She
threw one quick, surprised glance at
her brother and his companions and,
lifting up her exquisite head, careless
ly hummed little tune under her
breath as she marched to the other end
of the room with gait that Juno her
self could not have improved upOn