Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-02-12


sake, and. 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 al
his court even should he be driven 10
the extreme Of divorcing Claude as
Claude's father had divorced Joan.
I believed, in case Mary should vol
unfairly prove false and remain II.
France either as the wife or the mis-
tress Of Francis, that Brandon woM.'
quietly but surely contrive some me-:
1, take her life. and hoped he would.
spoke to my wife. Jane. about the
queens conduct, and she finally admit
ted that she did not like it. so |, unable
Il. remain silent any longer, determined
ln put Mary OIL her guard, and for that
purpose spoke very freely to her on the
subject.
"Oh. you gooser she said laughingly.
"IIe Is almost as great fool as Hen
ry." Then the tears came to her eyes,
and half angrily. half hyAterically.
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
woman with love in her heart such
as ! have for him is safe from every
one ard everything; that it is her sheet
anchor. sure and fast? Have you not
wit enough Il know that?"
"Nes. have" l responded. for the
time completely silenced. With her fa-
vorite tactics she had. as usual, put me
In the wrong. though soon came
again to the attack.
"Rut lie is so base that | grieve to
see you with him."
81 suppose he is not very good" she
responded. hut it seems to be the way
of these people among whom | have
fallen. and lie cannot harm me-"
"Oh. but he can! One does not so
near smallpox. and there is moral
contagion quite as dangerous. If not so
perceptible. and equally to be avoid
cd. Ii must lie a wonderfully healthy
moral nature. pure and chaste to the
core. that will be entirely contagion
proof and safe from it"
She hung her head in thought and
then lifted her eyes appealingly to me.
Am | not that. Edwin? Tell me! Tell
Inc frankly: am | not? 1t Is the one
thing of good have always striven
for. am so full of other faults that II
| have not that there is no good in
me-" Her eyes and voice were full OF
tears. and knew in my heart that
stood before as pure soul as ever
came from the hand of God.
You are. your majesty: never
doubt" | answered. 1T is pre-emi.
nently the Cnr thing in womanhood to
which all mankind kneels." And | fell
upon my knee and kissed her hand
with a sense of reverence. faith and
trust that has never left me from that
day to this. As to my estimate Of how
Francis would act when Louis should
die. you will see that | was right.
Not long after this Lady Caskoden
md were given permission to return
TO England. and Immediately prepared
for our homeward journey.
As we left. Mary placed in my hands
n letter for Brandon. whose bulk was so
rcaSSur:ng that knew he had never
been out of her thoughts. looked ut
the letter Il moment and said. in all
seriousness. Your majesty, had | not
better provide an extra box for it?'
She gave Il nervous little laugh. and
the tears filed her eyes as she whisper
ed huskily: Il fancy there is one who
will not think 1t too large. Goodby,
goodby" So we left Mary, fair. sweet
girl queen. all alone among those ter
rible strangers. Alone with one little
English maiden, seven years OF age,
Anne Boleyn.