The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-08-14

reconciled with you despite the way
| you treated me when last we met.
am going to be friends with you wheth-
or you will or not. Now what do YOU
say to that, sir?" She spoke with n
huttering little laugh of uneasy non
,, assurance, which showed that her
heart was not nearly so confident nor
so bold as hcr words would make be-
heve. Poor Brandon, usually so ready,
had nothing "tO say to that" but sat
| In helpless silence.
was this the sum total Of all his
wise determinations made ut the cost
OF so much pain and effort? Was this
the answer to all his prayer, Lead
me not into temptation?" He had done
his part, for he had done all lie could.
Heaven had no: helped him, since here
was temptation thrust upon him when
least expected and when the way was
so narrow he could not escape, but
must meet it face to face.
Mary soon recovered her self posses
sion-womcn are better skilled in this
art than mcn-and continues:
Il am not intending TO say one word
about your treatment of me that Iay
over In the forest. although il was very
Dad and You have acted Ghamnahly
ever since. Now is not that kind i'm
me!' And she softly laughed as she
pecpcd up ut the poor follow from be-
meath those sweeping laShcs. with the
prcmeditatcd purpose of tantalizing
him, l suppose. She was beginning TO
know her power over him. and it was
never greater than at this moment.
Iynr hon Mt h,I
for the princess was sunk and the
woman was dominant, with flushed
face and flashing eyes that caught Il
double lustcr from the glowing love
that made her heart beat so fast.
With the mood that was upon her
wonder Brandon maintained his self
restraint even for Il moment. He felt
that his only hope lay in silence so he
sat beside her and said nothing He
told me long aftrrward that while sit
ting there In the intervals between her
speech, the oldest, widest thoughts ran
through his brain. He wondered how
he could escape. He thought of Tie
window and that possibly he might
break away through it, and then he
thought Of feigning Illness. and Il hun
dred other absurd schemes, but they
all came to nothing. and lie sat there
to let events take their own course, as
they seemed determined TO do iii spite
Of him..
After Il short silence Mary continued
half banteringly: answer me, sir.
will have no more of this. You shall
treat me at least with the courtesy you
would show bourg"oisc girl"
"Oh. that you were only Il burghcr's
daughtcr!'
Eyes. know all that; but am not
1t can't be helped, and YOU shall an
swer me-"
'"Thcrc is no answer. dear lady. !
beg you-"oh, do YOU not Sec
Eyes, yes; but answer my question.
Am l not kind, moro than you de-
servc!"
"Indccd, yes; thousand times. You
have always been so kind so gracious
and so condesccnding to me that can
only thank you, thank you. thank you,"
answered Brandon almost shyly, not
daring to lift his eyes to hers.
Mary saw the manner quickly enough
what woman ever missed it, much
| less so keen eyed Il girl as she--and it
gave her confidence and brought back
! the easy banter of her old time man
| ner.
GLOW modest we have become.
| Where Is the bOldncss of which We
used to have so much? Kind? Have
l always been SO? How about the first
time / met you? Was 1 kind then?
| And as to condcsccnsiOn, dont-dOnt
| use that word between us"
| NO." returned Brandon, who in his
turn was recovering himself; 'no, l
| can't say that you were very kind at
| first. How you did fly out at me and
surprise me! 1t was so unexpected it
| almost took me Off my feet" And they
| both laughed in remembering the scene
| of their first meeting. mo, ! can't say
your kindness showed itself very
| strongly in that first Interview, but
| 1t was there nevertheless, and when
Lady Jane led me back your real ma
| ture asserted itself, as 1t always does,
and you were kind to me-kind as only
! you can be-"
That was getting very near to the
sentimental - dangerously near, he
thought, and he said to himself, "If
! tilS uOeS uOt ellu uulChiy, Silaii huNt
to escape"
You are easily satisfied If you call
that good" .aughingly returned Mary.
81 can be ever so much better than
that If 1 try"
Let me see you try" said Brandon.
"Why, I'm trying now," answered
Mary, with a distracting little pout.
Don't you know genuine out and out
goodness when you see 1t? I'm doing
my very best now. Can't you tell"
Yes, think recognize 1t, but-but
-be bad again"
! "No, l won't! | will not be bad even
to please you. | have determined not