Cañon City record., 1903-12-03

ly up into Is flee. Ey t'.e t.ise her
answer car they We're nearer us. AID
l heard her sly: Il am afis shall
have to forgive you again if you are
not careful. Let me see an c:illait 4
of that molesty you so much boas,
But smiic and fash of the eyes
went with the words and took all tie
sting out of them.
After time the dancers stopped. and
Mary, with flushed face and slnrkiing
eyes. sank into a chair, eNclaiming:
"The new dance is delightful. Jane. 1t
is like flying. your partner helps you so.
Rut what would the king say-and the
queen? She would simply swoon with
horror 1t is delightful, though" Then.
with more confusion in her manner
than | had ever before seen. 'Tl..t :.
1t is delightful IL oae chooses her part
ner."
This only made matters worse and
gave Brandon an opportunity.
Dare l hope?" he asked. with def
erential bow.
"Oh, yes; you may hope. l tell you
frankly it was delightful with YOU.
Now, are you satisfied, my MODEST onef
Jane, | see we have a forward body
here. No telling what he will be AZ
next" said Mary, with evident impa'
tience, rapidly swaying her fan. She
spoke almost sharply, for Brandon's
attitude was more that of an equr'
than she was accustomed to, and he
royal dignity. which was the artificial
part of her. rebelled against 1t now and
then in spite of her real inclinations.
The habit of receiving only adulation
and living on a pinnacle above every
body else was so strong from continued
practice tina, it appealed to her as
duty to maintain that elevation. She
had never before been called upon to
exert herself in that direction. and the
situation was new. The servile ones
with whom she usually associated
maintained it for her; SO she now felt
whenever she thought of 1t, that she
was in duty bound to Chamber back. at
least part of the way, to her dignity
however pleasant 1t was personally
down below in the denser atmosphere
Of informality.
In her heart the princess preferred.
upon proper occasions, such as this, to
abate her dignity, and often requested
others to dispense with ceremony, as in
fact she had done with us earlier in the
evening. But Brandon's easy manner.
although perfectly respectful and ele-
gantly polite. was very different from
anything she had ever known. She
enjoyed It, but every now and then the
sense of her Importance and dignity
for you must remember she was the
first princess of the blood royal-would
supersede even her love of enjoyment,
and the girl went down and the prin-
cess came up. Besides. she half feared
that Brandon was amusing himself at
her expense. and that in fact this wa'
a new sort of masculine worm. Really
she sometimes doubted If 1t were a
worm at all. and did not know what to
expect nor what she ought to do.
She was far more girl than princess.
and would have preferred to remain
merely girl and let events take the
course they were going, for she liked
1t. But there was the other part of
her which was princess, and which
kept saying, Remember who you are. >
so she was plainly at a loss between
natural and artificial inclinations con-
tending unconsciously within her.
Replying to Mary's remark over
James shoulder. Brandon said:
"Your highness asked us to lay aside
ceremony for the evening, and If have
offended can but make for my excuse
my desire to please you. Be sure
shall offend no more" This was said
30 seriously that his meaning could not
be misunderstood. He did not care
whether he pleased SO capricious per
son or not.
Mary made no reply. and 1t looked as
II Brandon had the worst of 1t.
We sat few minutes talking. Mary