The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1904-06-04

GOllCt : Y - AAOtCC Ottls AtAd W 0NAtitt
1t and nail assurance, | fear. played
ever so lightly and coyly upon the
heartstrinGs of the young duke. which
responded all toe loudly to her velvet
touch and almost frightened ter to
death with their volume of sound later
on. This Francis d~Angoulame, the
daupiin. had fallen desperately in love
with Mary at first sight. something
against which the fact that he was
married to Claude. daughter of Louis.
In no way Initiated. He was a very
distant relative OF Louis. going away
back to st. Louis for his heirship to
the French crown. The king had
daughters In plenty. but. as you know.
tie gallant Frenchmen say. according
to their law salic. THE realm of
France is SO great aud glorious a heri-
tage that it MAJ not be taken by a
woman" Too great and glorious to be
taken by q woman. forsoo.h! France
would have been vastly better off had
she been governed by a woman now
and then. for a country always pros
pers under a queen.
Francis had for many years lived at
court as the recognized heir. ard. az
the custom was. called his distant cous.
In Louis Uncle" Uncle" Louis in
turn called Francis Zee eros Garcon."
and Queen Mary called him Monsieur.
mon beau 6ls.' in a mock notherly
manner that was very ~laughable. a
mother Of eighteen to a '.gool boy of
twenty-two! Dangerous relationship!
And dangerous indeed it wouid have
been for Mary had she not been as
pure and true as she was willful ard
impetuous. mon beau fills" allowed
neither his wife nor the respect lie
owed the king TO stand in the way of
his very marked attention to the queen.
His position az heir and his long resi-
dence at court. almost as son to Louis.
gave him ample opportunities for press
ing his unseemly suit. He was the
first TO see Mary at the meeting place
this side of Abbeville. and was the
kings representative on all occasions.
Beau fills" was rather n handsome
fellow. but thought himself vastly
handsomer thai he was, and had some
talents. which he was likewise careful
to estimate at their full value, TO say
the least. He was very well liked by
women, and in turn considered himself
Irresistible. He vas very impression
able to feminine charms. was at heart
a libertine. and. as he grew older. be-
came a ~debauclee whose memory will
faint France for centuries 10 come.
Mary saw his weakness more clearly
than his wickedness. being blinded to
the latter by the veil of her own limo
cence. She laughed ut ard with him.
ard permitted herself a great deal of
his company-so much. in fact, that |
grew a little Jealous for Brandon's
sake. ard. If the truth must be told. for
the first time began TO have doubts of
her. | seriously feared that when
Louis should die Brandon might find
a much more dangerous rival in the
new king, who. although married.
would probably try TO keep Mary a.
his court even should lie be driven to
the extreme of divorcing Claude MS
Claude's father had divorced Joan.
believed. in case Mary shonld vol
unfairly prove false ard remain in
France either as the wife or the mis-.
.ress of Francis. that Brandon wou'd
quietly but surely contrive some means
10 lake hei life. and | hoped he would.
| spoke to my wife, Jane. about the
queens conduct. ard she finally admit.
tea that she did not like it. so |. unable
Do remain silent any longer. determined
to put Mary on her guard. and COR that
purpose spoke very freely to her on the
subject.
"Oh. you goose.' she said l%aughingly.
"He is almost us great q fool as Hen
ty." Then the tears came to her eyes.
and half angrily. half Historically.
shaking me by the arm she continued:
do you not know? Can you not see
that | would give this hand or my eyes.
almost my life. just TO fall upon my
face In front of Charles Brandon at
this moment? Do you not know that
a woman with a love In her heart such
as | have for him is safe from every
one and everything; that 1t is her sheet
anchor. sure and fast? Have you not
wit enough to know that?"
YES. | have | responded. for the
time completely silenced. With her ia.
vorlte tactics she had. as usual. put me
In the wrong. though | soon cam
again to the attack.
but he Is so base that l grieve TO
see you with him."
II suppose he Is not very good" she
responded. "but 1t seems to be the way
of these people among whom | have
fallen. and he cannot harm me-"
"Oh, hut he can. One does not &C
near smallpox. and there is n moral
t~ontagion quite rs dangerous. If moi so
,%erceptible. and equally TO be avoid.
d. 1t must be a wonderfully healthy
MORAL nature. pure and chaste TO the
ore. that will be entirely contagion
roof and safe from it,"
She hung head in thought and
e1 lifted her eyes appealincly 10 me.
I'm | not that. Edwini Tell me. Tell
"a fire. pLIx. am u0f9 n is fba Ope