Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-06-08

tons, being n favorite with both their
majesties. AS to his standing with
Mary, who was really the most impor-
tant figure socially about the court. /
could not exactly say. She was such
mixture OF contradictory impulses and
rapid transitions. and was so full OF
whims and caprice, the inevitable out
growth of her blood, her rank and the
adulation amid which she had always
lived, that | could not predict for a
day ahead her attitude toward any one.
She had never shown so great favor
to any man as to Brandon. but just
how much Of her condescension was
a mere within, growing out of the i'm
pulse of the moment and subject to
reaction, / could not tell. / believed,
however, that Brandon stood upon a
firmer foundation with this changing,
shifting quicksand of a girl than with
either of their majesties
In fact, thought he rested upon her
heart itself. But to guess correctly
what girl of that sort will do or think
or feel would require inspiration.
or course most of the entertainments
given by the king and queen included
as guests nearly all the court, but
Mary often had little fetes and dane
ing parties which were smaller, more
select and informal These parties We're
really with the consent and encourage
ment of the king, to avoid the respon-
sibility of not inviting everybody. The
larger affairs were very dull, and
smaller ones might give offense to
those who were left out The latter,
therefore. were turned over to Mary,
who cared very little who was offend
ed or who was not, and invitations to
them were highly valued.
One afternoon a day or two after
Brandon's presentation a message ar
rived from Mary notifying me that she
would have a little fete that evening
in one Of the smaller halls and direct
Ing me to be there as master of the
dance. Accompanying the message was
q note from no less a person than the
princess herself, inviting Brandon.
This was an honor indeed-an auto
graph invitation from the hand of Ma
ryi But the masterful rascal did not
seem to consider it anything unusual,
and when | handed him the note upon
his return from the hunt he simply
read it carelessly over once, tore it in
pieces and tossed it away. l believe
the Duke of Buckingham would have
given 10000 crowns to receive such
note and would doubtless have shown
it to half the court in triumphant con-
fidence before the middle of the night.
To this great captain of the guard it
was but scrap of paper. He was glad
10 have it. nevertheless, and with all his
self restraint and stoicism could not
corceal his pleasure.
Brandon at once accepted the invita-
ton in personal note to the princess.
The boldness of this actually took my
breath, and it seems at first to have
startled Mary a little also. AS you
must know by this time, her dignity
royal was subject to alarms and quite
her most troublesome attribute-very
apt to receive damage in her relations
with Brandon.
Mary did not destroy Brandon's note.
despite the fact that her sense of dig
nifty had been disturbed by it, but after
she had read it slipped off into her pri-
vate room, read it again and put it on
her escritoire. Soon she picked it up.
reread it and, after a little hesitation,
put it in her pocket. 1t remained in
the pocket for a moment or two, when
out it came for another perusal, and
then she unfastened her bodice and put
it in her bosom. Mary had been so in
tent upon what she was doing that she
had not seen Jane. who was sitting
quietly in the window, and when she
turned and saw her she was so angry
she snatched the note from her bosom
and threw it upon the floor, stamping
her foot in embarrassment and rage
How dare you watch me, hussy?"
she cried. You Turk around as still as
the grave, and have to look into every
nook and corner wherever | go or have
you spying on me-"
81 did not spy upon you, Lady Mary"
said Jane quietly.
Don't answer me! l know you did!
l want you to be less silent after this.
Do you hear? Cough or sing or STUN
BILE; do something, anything. that I
may hear you"
Jane rose. picked up the note and Of
fered it to her mistress, who snatched
1t with one hand while she gave her a
sharp slap with the other. Jane ran
out, and Mary. full Of anger and shame,
slammed the door and locked it. The
note, being the cause Of all the trouble,
she impatiently threw to the floor
again and went over to the window
bench. where she threw herself down
to pout. In the course of five minutes
she turned her head for one feeting
instant and looked at the note, and
then, after a little hesitation, stole
over to where she had thrown it and
picked it up Going back to the light
at the window she held 1t In her hand
a moment and then read it once. twice,
thrice. The third time brought the
smile, and the note nestled i'm the