Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-04-03
THE wINDAAM COUNTY REFoRMER, FRIDAY, APRIL 8, 1908


of treatment was such as the cool head
ed, daring Brandon would repay VIII
usury: SO, turning upon his heel anc
almost presenting his back to Mary III
spoke to Lady Jane:
"Will your ladyship say to her high
ness that her majesty the queen awaits
her coming at the marble landing"
"No need to repeat the message
Jane." cried Mary. II have ears ani
can hear for myself" Then, turning tt
Brandon. "If your insolence will permit
you to receive message from so insig
nificant person as the kings sister,
beg you to say to the queen that l shall
be with her presently"
He did not turn his face toward Ma
~. but bowed again to Jane.
"May l ask your ladysllip further to
say for me that if have been guilty OF
any discOurtesy l greatly regret 1t. MY
failure to recognize the Princess Mary
grew out of my misfortune in never
having been allowed to bask In the
light of her countenance. l cannot be-
lieve the fault lies at my door, and l
hope for her own sake that her high
ness on second thought will realize how
ungentle and unkind some one else has
been" And with sweeping courtesy
he walked quickly down the path.
"The insolent wretch cried one.
"He ought to hold papers on the pill
lory," said another.
Nothing of the Sort" broke in sensi-
BILE, fearless little Jane. II think the
Lady Mary was wrong. He could not
have known her by inspiration"
"Jane is right" exclaimed Mary,
whose temper if short, was also short
lived and whose kindly heart always
set her right If she but gave it little
time Her faults were rather those of
education than of nature. Jane Is
right 1t was what deserved. l did
I not think when | spoke and did not
really mean it as it sounded. He acted
! like a man and looked like one, too,
when he defended himself. l warrant
| the pope at Rome could not run over
! him with impunity. For once | have
/ found real live man, full of manli-
I ness saw him in the lists at Windsor
Il week ago, bat the king said his name
was a secret, and | could not learn it.
I He seemed to know you, Jane. Who is
I he? Now tell us all you know. The
queen can watt
/ And her majesty waited on girls
curiosity.
| | had told Jane all | knew about
Brandon, so she was prepared with
/ full information and gave it. She told
the princess who he was, of his ter
rible duel with Judson. his bravery
and adventures in the wars, his gener-
GUS gift to his brother and sisters, and,
lastly, Sir Edwin says he is the best
read man in the court and the bravest.
truest heart in Christendom."
After James account of Brandon
they al started by roundabout way
for the marble landing. In a few mo-
ments whom did they see coming to-
ward them down the path but Bran
don, who had delivered his message
and continued his walk. When he
saw whom he was about to meet. he
quickly turned in another direction.
The Lady Mary had seen him, how
ever, and told Jane to run forward and
bring him to her. She soon overlook
him and said:
Master Brandon. the princess
wishes to see YOU" then maliciously:
"You will suffer this time. l assure
you she is not used to such treatment.
1t was glorious, though. to see you re-
sent such an affront. Men usually
smirk and smile foolishly and thank
her when she smites them"
Brandon was disnclned to return.
Il am not in her highness' COM
mand," he answered, "and do not care
to go back for reprimand when ! am
in no way to blame"
"Oh, but you must come. Perhaps
she will not scold this time" And she
put her hand upon his arm and laugh
ingly drew him along. Brandon Of
course had to submit when led by so
sweet captor-anybody would. So
fresh and fair and lovable was Jane
that l am sure anything masculine
must have given way.
Coming up to the princess and her
ladies', who were waiting, Jane said,
Lady Mary, let me present Master
Brandon, who, if he has offended in
any way, humbly sues for pardon
That was the one thing Brandon had
no notion on earth of doing. but he let
it go as Jane had put it, and this was
his reward:
1T is not Master Brandon who
should sue for pardon responded the
princess. ut is | who was wrong. |
blush for what | did and said. Forgive
me, sir. and let us start anew" At this
she stepped up to Brandon and offered
him her hand. which he. dropping to
his knee kissed most CALAMITY.
"Your highness. You can well afford
to offend when you have so sweet and
gracious talent for making amends
"A wrong acknowledged as some one
@a Ga = i