The San Francisco call., 1903-01-25

we walked down the corridor arm In arm.
could not imagine what was wanted, but
presently 1t came out: MY dear Casko-
den; had been one for whom he could
have had any use / should have grown
suspicious. my dear Caskoden, I know
L can trust you; especially when that
which have to say is for the happiness
of your friends. Il am sure you will never
name me in connection with the sugges-
ton / am about to make. and will use
the thought only as your own
l did not know what was coming, but
gave him the strongest assurance of my
truStworthiness.
''It is this: Louis of France is little bet
ter than dead man. King Henry, per-
haps, Is not fully aware Of this, and, il
he Is, he has never considered the proba-
bility of his speedy death. The thought
occurred to me that although the Princess
cannot dissuade her brother from this
marriage she may be able in view of her
ready and cheerful compliance, to extract
some virtue out of her sore necessity and
induce him to promise that, In case Of the
death of Louis. she herself shall choose
her second husband"
My lord 1 replied, quickly grasping
the point: ''It is small wonder you rule
this land. You have both brain and
heart"
''I thank you. Sir Edwin, and hope that
both may always be at the service Of
you and your friends"
1 gave the suggestion to Mary my
own, recommending that she proffer her
request to the King in the presence Of
Wolsey,. and. although she had little faith
or hope. she determined to try.
Within day two opportunity Of
fered, and she said to Henry: Il am ready
to go totFrance any time you wish, and
/
1 do so much for you, brother, you might
at least promise me that when King
Louis Is dead 1 may marry whomsoever
l wish. He will probably live forever.
but let me have at least that hope to
give me what cheer 1t may while / suf-
fer"
The ever-present Wolsey, who was
standing near and heard Mary's petition,
interposed: Let me add my prayer to
that Of her Highness. We must give her
her own way in something"
Mary was such a complete picture Of
wretchedness that 1 thought at the time
she had really found a tender spot in
Henry's' heart, for he gave the promise.
Since then 1 have learned as you will
shortly, that it was given simply to paci-
fly the girl, and without any intention
whatever of being kept; but that. in case
of the death of King Louis, Henry in
tended again to use his sister to his own
advantage
To be beautiful princess is not to en-
joy the bliss some people imagine. The
earth is apt to open at any time, and
Pluto to snatch her away to-the Lord
knows where.
Mary again poured out her soul on pa
per-a libation intended for Brandon.
had made dozen attempts, in as many
different ways to deliver her letters, but
every effort was failure, and this mis-
sive met the fate of the others. De
Longueville kept close Watch on his mas
ter's rival, and complained to Henry
about these attempts at communication.
Henry laughed and said he would see
that they were stopped, but paid no more
attention to the matter.
II Mary. before her interview with Hen
ry, had been averse to the French mar
riage she was now equally anxious to
hurry it on. and longed to go upon the
rack in order that Brandon might be free.
He, of course, objected as strenuously as
possible to the purchase of his life by
her marriage to Louis, but his better
judgment told HMM fact, had told him
from the frst-that she would be COM
PEELED to marry the French king, and
common sense told him If 1t must be, she
might as well save his life at the same
time. Furthermore, he felt a certain
sense of delight in owing his life to her.
and knew that the fact that she had
saved him-that her sacrifice had not all
been in vain-would make 1t easier for
her to bear.
The most beautiful feature of the re-
latons between these two lovers was
their entire faith In each other. The way
of their true love was at least not rough
ened by cobble-stones of doubt, however
impossible 1t was from mountains Of op-
preston.
My inability to deliver Mary's letters
did not deter her from writing them; and
she was to be married in few days
DE Longueville to act proxy-she de-
voted her entire time to her letters, and
wrote pages upon pages. which she left
with me to be delivered after DEATH as
she called her marriage.
At this time / was called away from
court for a day or two and when l re-
turned and called upon Brandon at the
tower. found him whistling and singing.
apparently as happy a lark. You
heartless dog" thought /, at first; but
1 soon found that he felt more than hap
piness-exaltation.
Have you seen herr" I asked.
'Who?" AS if there were more than
one woman in all the world for him.
1.-The Princess.
mot since 1 left her at Bristol"
I believed then. and believe now, that
this was a pointblank falsehood-a very
unusual thing for Brandon-but for some
reason probably necessary in this case
There was an expression in his face
which could not interpret, but he wrote.
If carelessly scribbling a scrap OF
paper that lay upon the table, the words,
"Be careful" and / took the hint-we
were watched. There is an unpleasant
sensation when one feels that he is watch
ed by unseen eyes, and after talking for
a boat for Greenwich.
When 1 arrived at the palace and saw
Mary, what was my surprise to find her
as bright and jubilant as had left Bran
don. She, too. laughed and sang, and was
so happy that she lighted the whole
room. What did 1t all mean? There was
but one explanation; they had met, and
there was some new plan on foot-with a
fatal ending. The next failure would mean
death to Brandon, as certainly as the
sun rises In the east. What the plan was
1 could not guess. With Brandon in the