The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, July 24, 1903, Image 1
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M m THE TOWN OF UNION . TFT * TF*T "M T T /\ PI1 T "M M" T ^ /"N OUTSIDE OF THE CITY
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. Mill end Dye Plant, one Oil Mill, L M I B 'BL B B B pBI- ' B B / B BJ Mill, another building, Geld Mitt|
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Graded Schools, Water Worlre and BB B A B J' I M j?V^ I I V I I A kv / Taxable value in and cut of towu
Electric Lights, Population 7,000. #* ~*r v ^^ M ^ rv? $5*000,000.
r VOL. yni. NO. 80., , ^ 11 AV Jl I V ' 190:;. #1.00 A YEAR.
IwtlEN KNI
I WAS IN I
A f y
Y Or, The Love Story of CbHa Brandon
Happening In the Reign of His Aug
5 ' fnrrtttM and Handcrtd^nto K
Wk C*.akoden'
3 By EDWIN tySK.ODE
Copyright, 1R9S and 1901, l,y 11
of whom was In the
habit of saying unkind tilings and being
thanked for them.
Brandon was the wrong man to r.ny
them to, as Mary learned, lie was not
hot tempered?In fact, Just the reverse
?but he was the last man to brook an
cool hooded, dangerous way nn luten- 1
tlonnl offense.
lie respected himself nnd made others
do the same, or seem to do so nt '
least. lie hnd no vanity, which is but
an lnordinnte desire for those qualities I
that bring self respect and often the result
of conscious demerit, but he knew <
himself nnd knew that lie was entitled
to his own good opinion. He was every
Inch a man, strong, intelligent and ,
brave to temerity, with a reckless dis
regard of consequences, which might |
have been dangerous had it not been
tempered by a dash of prudence nnd
cantlon that gave him hnllnst.
I was not surprised when I heard of
the encounter, for I knew enough of
him to be sure that Mary's high handedness
would meet its counterpart in my
cool friend BrHudon. It was, however, :
an unfortunate victory, and what all '
Mary's beauty nnd brightness would '
have fulled to do her honest, open acknowledgment
of wrong, following so
quickly upon the heels of her fault, ac- !
" compllshed easily. It drew him within
the circle of her fatal attractions, and
when Jane told me of it I knew his fate
was sealed and that sooner or later his
untouched heart and cool head would
fall victim to the shafts that so surely
winged all others. ' 1
ii iuikiii nnu pronnniy would Do
'Inter," since, ns Brandon had said, lie
wns not one of those who wear the
"1 met i/owr friend. Did he tell ycu?"
henrt upon tho Rleevfc. Then lie had
tlint strong vein of prudence and caution
which, In view of Mary's unnttalnableness,
would probably conic to ids
help. But never was man's henrt strong
euuiiKii to riDim .imrj' moors smile
for long.
Thoro wan this difference between
Brandon and most others?be would bo
low to love, but when love should once
fairly take root In his intense nature he
would not do to trillc with.
The night after the meeting Mary
cuddled up to Jane, who slept with her,
and whispered, lialf bashfully:
"Tell me ull about Iiraiulon. I am
Interested In him. I believe If I ^new
more persons like him I should be n
better girl, notwithstanding he Is oue
of the boldest men I ever Uuew. Ho
says anything he wishes with all
his modest manner, Is as tool with me
as If I were n burgher's daughter. Ills
modesty is nil on the outside, but it is !
pretty, and pretty things must be on J
the outside to be useful. I wonder if .
Judson thought him modest."
Jnne talked of Ilrnndon to Mary, who
was in an excellent humor, until the
( girls fell asleep."
When Jane told me of this, I became
frightened, for the surest way to uny
woman's heart Is to convince her that
you innki' n?*r uvuer aim arouse m ncr
breast purer impulses and higher aspirations.
It would l?c l>nd enough should
Brandon fall In love with tho princess,
jL which was almost sure to hnppen,
but for them to full In love with ench
cither inonnt Brandon's head uikiu the,
block and Mary's henrt hrulscd, broken
ami empty for life. Her strong nature,
filled to the brim with Intent passion,
was the stuff of which love makes a
conflagration that hums to destruction,
and should she learn to love Brandon
slic would move lieu vet) and earth
to Qoesc^s Ulm. i
A -#b A i'ili?
'vfT^fr ^rT^rr tj?? ^pj*
She whose every desire fr^r
mount necessity, would,,?top yit nothing
when the dearest wish i\ vyoman's
hea*t*cnneoin was to bo gnlned or lost.
Brandon's element of prudence might
help liitn and might forestall any effort
011 his part to win her, but Mary
had never heard of prudence, and
man's caution avails but little when
net against woman's daring. In case
tliey both should love they were sure
Ito try for each other and in trytaig were
equally sure to nnu rulu and desolallon.
A few evenings nfter this I met the
princess in the queen's drawing room.
She beckoned me to her and, resting
her elbows on the top of a cabinet, her
chin in her hands, said: "1 met your
friend. Captain Brandon, a day or twe
ago. Did he toll you?"
"No," I answered. "Jane told me,
but he has not mentioned it."
It was true Brandon had not said a
word of the matter, and I had not
siioken of it either. I wanted to see
how long lie would remain sflfuit concerning
an adventure that would have
set most men of the court l>oasting at
a great rate. To have a tilt with the
ever victorious Mary and to come off
victor was enough, I think, to loosen
any tongue less given to bragging than
Brandon's.
"So," continued Mary, evidently
somewhat piqued, "he did not think his
presentation to me a thing worth mentioning?
We had a little passage at
arms, and, to tell you the truth, I came
off second best and had to acknowledge
It too. Now, wllat do you think of tills
new friend of yours? And he did not
boast about having the better of me.
After all, there is more virtue In his siloilPB
tllllli 1 fit flrsst lmnirlif " A ?wl ?!***
throw back her bond and clapped her
hands and laughed with the most con*
taglous little ripple you ever hoard. She
seemed not to grieve over her defeaf,
but dimpled as though It were a huge
Joke, the thought of which rather
pleased her than otherwise. Victory
had grown stale for her, although so
young.
"What do I think of my new friend?"
I repeated after lier, and that gave me
a theme upon which I could enlarge
eloquently. I told her of his learning,
notwithstanding the fact that he had
been in tho continental wars ever slnco
lie was a l>oy. I repeated to her stories
of his daring and bravery that had
been told to me by his uncle, tho master
of the horse, and others, and then
I added what I knew Lady Jane had
already said. I had expected to be
brief, but to my surprise found a close
and Interested listener, even to the
twice told parts, and drew my story
out a little, to the liking of us both.
"Your friend lins an earnest advocate
In you, Sir Edwin," said tho princess.
"Thnt he bus," I replied. "There is
nothing too good to say of him."
I knew that Mary, with her better,
clearer brain, held tho king almost in
the palm of her band, so I thought to
advance Brandon's fortune by a timely
word.
' I (nuf tho IfI.i? ...III ??? ?
????v VMV nui^ " hi ocw 111 iu Mivur
him, and I hope that you will apeak a
wonl In lila behalf should the opportunlty
occur."
"What, In the uaiue of heaven, have
wo to give him?" cried Mary impatlently,
for she kept an eye on things
political, even If she were only a girl.
"The king has given away everything
that enn lie given already, and now
that the war la over and men aro coming
home there aro hundreds waiting
for more. My fntlier'a great treaaure la
squandered, to any nothing of tho money
collected from l-'rupson, Dudley and
the other commissioners. Thero Is nothing
to give unless It l>o the titles and
estate of the late Duke of Suffolk.
Perhaps the king will give these to
your paragon If j*ou will paint him In
as fair a light as you have drawn him
for me." Then, throwing back her
head, with a laugh, "Ask him."
"It would bo none too much for his
deserts," I replied, falling In with her
humor.
"We will so arrange It, then," went
on Mary banterlngly. "Captain HraufinII
ItA lAIItrAr lint Plm el""
ww?> ??V fWMnVB I UMV V?MII IVO AUnilUWII,
duke of Buffolk. How Hounds It, Master
Cnskoden?"
"Bwoet In my ears," I replied.
"I really believe you would have tbe
king'* crown for liliu, you absurd man,
if you could get it. Wo must bovo no
interesting a person at court. I abaII
at least nee that be la presented to tbo
queen at once. I wonder If bo dance*.
I suppose not. He baa probably been
too busy cutting nud thrusting." And
*h?. laughed again at ber own pleasantry.
grander luen were
one <5itrl?es a^couta^g^j
cards?that In, aucfi as wejadiedi! m
asked Mary. "You say lie has w%4
much in Frauce. where the game wrfkp
Invented, hut I have no doubt bo.
would scorn to waste Ills time at so
frivolous n pursuit when he might be
slaughtering nrniieR single handed and
alone," *?..
"I do hot know us to Ills dancing
nnd curd playing, but I dare venture
a wager lie does both," I replied, not
liking lier tone of sarcasm. She had
yet to learn who Rrnndon was.
"I will hazard ten crowns," said
Mary quickly, for she loved a wager
nnd was a born gambler.
"Taken," said I.
"We will try him on both tomorrow
night In my drawing room," she continued.
"You bring him up, but tell |
110 one. I will linve Jane there with
her lute, which will not frighten you
away I know, nnd we will try his step.
I will have cards, too, nnd we shall see
what he can do nt triumph. Just we j
four, no one else at all. You nnd Jane,
the new Duke of Suffolk and I. Oh,
I can hardly wait!" And she fnlrlj'
danced with Joyous anticipation.
The thing had enough irrcgulurity
to give it zest, for while Mary often
had a few young people in her drawing
room, the companies were never bo
small as two couples only, and the
king nnd queen, to make up for greater
faults, were wonderful sticklers iu the
innUer of little proprieties.
fhe ten crown wager, too, gave spice
to it, but to do her juBtiee she cared
very little ^for that. The princess
loved gambling purely fon?vgnmbling
sake, and with her the nexrbest thing
to winning was losing.
When I went to my room that night,
i awakened Brandon and told him of
uk- ciisuiigursueu iionov unit awaited
him.
"Well, I'll lie"? But lie did not say
what he would "he." He always halted
before an oath, unless angry, which
was seldom, but then beware. He
had learned to swear in l-'landers.
"How she did 11 y at ine the other
morning! I never was more surprised
in all my life. For once 1 was almost
caught with my guard down and did
not know how to parry the thrust.
I mumbled over some sort of a lame
retaliation and beat a retreat. It was
so unjust and uncalled for that it
made me angry. But she was so gracious
in her amends- that 1 was almost
glad It happened. 1 like n woman
who can be as savage as the very
devil when it pleases her. She usually
has In store an assortment of possibilities
for the other extreme."
"She told mo of your encounter," I
returned, "but said she bad come off
second best, and seemed to think her
overthrow a lingo Joke."
"The innn who lenrns to know what
a woman thinks and feels will have a
great deal of valuable information," he
renllod. mill then turne,! ever fr\w nlnnn
greatly pleased tlint one woman
thought as She did.
I was not sure ho would be so highly
flattered If he knew that ho had been
Invited to settle a wager and to help
Mnry to a Ilttlo sport.
As to the former, I bad an interest
there myself, nithough I dared not settle
the question by asking Brandon if
he played cards and danced, and, as to
the matter of Mary's sport, I felt there
was but little if any danger of her
having too much of it nt his expense,
Brandon being well ablo to care for
himself in that respect.
The next evening at the appointed
time wo wended our way by an unfrequented
route and presented ourselves
as secretly as possible at the drawing
room of the princess.
The door was opened by Lady Jane,
and we met the two girls almost at the
threshold. I had told Brandon of tho
bantering conversation about tho tltlo
and estntes of tho late Duke of Suffolk,
and he had laughed over it in the best
of humor. If quick to retaliate for an
Intentional offense, ho was not thin
skinned at a piece of pleasantry, Qnd
had none of that stiff, sensitive dignity
so troublesome to oneself and friends.
Now, Jane nnd Mary were always
bantering me beenuso ( was short and
inclined to be, in fact, round, but I
did not care. It mude them laugh, and
their laughing was so contagious it
made me laugh, too, and we all en*
joyed It. 1 would clvo n nonnd storllmr
nny time for a good laugh, and that, I
think, la why I intve always been?
round.
So, upon entering, I sold:
"His grace the Duke of Suffolk, la* {
dies."
They each luado a aweening court*
I. 1
liaud on breast, and gravely
Im:
race, good even."
ii's bow was as deep and
' If that were possible, as
d when lie moved on into the
fvns with a little halt in his
| a big blowing out of the
> ludicrous iinititlioi) of his
btcd predecessor that sent tlio
peals of soft laughter and put
our ease immediately,
at a tiling it is to look back
It time of life when one finds
|U in a*ready laugh!
cd, all," said the princess.
|o be without ceremony and
Km'! No ope knows a word of
Ku tell any one, Sir Edwin?"
She thought!" I exclaimed. !
Red licr face toward Brandon,
mow you did not. I've heard
feet you were about another
Boll, no one knows It, then,
cbn have a famous evening.
expect tills. Master BrandoiVstfrchjny
reception of you the other
mornlnfe? Were you not surprised
when Sir Kdwln told you?"
"I think 1 can safely say that I was
prepared ik>t to lie surprised at anything
your' highness might gracious'?
conclude t?t do?after uiy first experience,"
be answered, smiling.
"Indeed T*| returned Mary, with elevated
eyebrows and a rising Inflection
011 the last syllable of the word. It
was now lier turn for a little surprise.
"Well, we'll try to find some way to
surprise yon one of these days." And
the time enuic when she was full of
surprises for him. Mary continued:
"Hut let us not talk about the ofBfcr
day. Of wlult use are 'other days,' anyway?
Bcfodb the evening Is over, Master
Brandoul we want you to give us
another tfOriapn." And she laughed, settine
off three other Inughs as hearty
nntTBTnceitt as If she had uttered the
rarest wittipism on earth.
The prhHiHS had told Jane and Jane
had told, flic of the "Serinon In the
Park," as Mao1 called it.
"Jane needs it as much as I," said
the princes^
"I can't^believe that," responded
Brandon, looking at Jane with a softening
glance quite too admiring and
comuaendatoQr to suit me, for I was a
jealous lUtlctflcvil.
The eyebrowe went up again.
"Oh.jrou tfttnk she doesn't? Well, in
truth, ""Mn^ter Brandon, tliere 1ft one
falliug that cannot be laid nt your door
?you are uo flatterer." For answer
Brandon laughed, and that gave us the
cue, and away we went In a rippling
chorus, all about nothing. Some persons
may call our laughter foolish, but
there are others who consider It the
height of all wisdom. St. George! I'd
give my Garter for just one other laugh
like that, for Just one other hour of
youth's dancing blood and glowing soul
warmth, of sweet, unconscious, happy
heart bent and paradise creating Joy
In everything!
After n few minutes of gay conversation,
In which we all joined, Mary asked:
"What shall we do? Will one of
you suggest something?"
Jane sat there looking so demure you
would have thought mischief could not
live within a league of her, but those
very demure girls nre nearly always
dangerous. She said, oh, so innocently:
"Would you like to dance? If so, 1
will play." And she reached for her
lute, which was by her side.
"Yes, that will l>e delightful. Master
Brandon, will you dance with me?"
asked the princess, with a saucy little
laugh, her invitation meaning so much
more to three of us than to Brandon.
Jane and I joined In the laugh, nnd
when Mary clapped her bauds that set
Brandon off, too, for he thought It the
quaintest, prettiest little gesture In the
world and was nil unconscious that our
laugh was at his expense.
Brandon did not answer Mary's invitation?the
lit of laughter had probably
put It out of his mind?so she, evidently
nnxlous to win or lose her wager at
once, agnin asked hint if he dunccd.
"Oh, pardon me! Of course! Thank
you!" And he was on his feet beside
her chair In an instant ready for tho
dance. This time the girl's laugh,
though equally merry, had nnother
tone, for she knew sho had lost.
Out they stepped upon the polished
floor, he holding her hand in his, awaiting
the pause in the music to take the
step. I shall never forget the sight of
? Al "
iuvmo mu .->iiiiiuiiiH mere logeiner?
Mary, dark eyed and glowing; Brandon,
almost rosy, 'with eyes that hold the
color of a dark spring sky and a wealth
of flowing curls crowning his six foot
of perfect manhood, strong and vigorous
as a young lion. Mary, full of
l?enuty curves and graces, a verltahlo
Venus In her teens, and Brandon, an
Apollo, with a touch of Hercailes, wero
41 complement euch to the other that
would surely make a perfect one.
When the music started, off they
went, heel and toe, bow and courtesy,
a step forward and a step back. In perfect
time and rhythm?a poein of human
motion. Could Brandon dance?
The princess had her answer In the
flrst ten steps. Nothing could be more
graceful tbau Brnudon's dancing un1
less It were Mary's, ller slightest
movement was graco itself. When she
would throw herself backward in
thrusting out her toe und then swing
forward with her head a llttlo to ono
i sldo, her uplifted arm undulating llko j
I the white ueck of a swou?for her ;
sleeve, whfeli was silt to (lie shoulder,
fell back and left it bare?she was u
sight worth a long journey to see. And
when she looked up to Brandon with a
laugh in her brown eyes and a curving
siuile just parting her full, red lips
that n man would give his very luck to
?hut I had better stop.
"Was there ever a goodlier couple?"
I asked Jaue, by whose side I sat.
"Never," she responded as she played,
aud, strange to say, I was jealous hecause
she agreed with inc. I was jealous
because I feared it was Brandon's
beauty to which she referred. That I
thought would naturally appeal to her.
Ilad lie been less handsome 1 should
perhaps have thought nothing of it,
hut I knew what tny feelings were to
warn -Mary, ami I judged, or rather
misjudged, Jaue by myself. I supposed-she
would think of Ilrandon as
I could not help thinking of Mary.
Was anything in heaven or earth ever
so beautiful as that royal creature
dancing there, daintily holding up her
skirts with thumb and first linger, just
far enough to show a distracting little
foot and ankle and make one wish lie
had heeti born a sheep rather than a
sentient i ' an who had to live without
Mary Tudor? Yet, strange as it may
seem, I was really and wholly in love
with Jane. In fact, I loved no one but
Jane, and my feeling of intense admiration
for Mary was but a part of
man's composite inconstancy.
A woman?God bless her!?if she really
loves a man, has no thought of any
other?one at a time Is all sutlielent?
but a man may love one woman with
the warmth of a simoom and at the
same time feel like a good, healthy
south wind toward a dozen others.
That is the difference between a man
and a woman?the difference between
the good and the bad. One average
woman has enough goodness in her to
supply an army of men.
Mary and Brandon wont on dancing
long after Jane was tired of playing.
It was plain to see that Hie girl was
thoroughly enjoying it. They kept up
a running tire of small talk and laughed
and smiled and bowed and eourtesled,
all in perfect time and grace.
It is more dlflicult than you may
thluk, If you have never tried, to keep
up a conversation and dance La Halliard
at the same time?one Is apt to
balk the other. IUit Brandon's dancing
was as easy to him as walking, and, although
so small a matter, I could sec it
raised him vastly in the estimation of
both girls.
"Do you piny triumph?" I heard Mary
ask In the midst of the dancing.
"Oh. yes," replied Brandon, much to
my delight, as the princess threw a
mischievous, knowing glance over her
shoulder to see if 1 had heard. She at
once saw 1 had, and this, of course,
settled the wager.
"And," continued Brandon, "I also
play the new game, honor and ruff,
which Is more Interesting than triumph."
"Oh, do you?" cried Mary. "That
will more than compensate for the loss
of my 10 crowns. Lot us sit down at
once. I have been wishing to learn,
but no one here seems to know it. In
France, they say, it is the only game.
I suppose there Is where you learned
It. Berlinps you know their new dances
too. I have heard they are delightful."
"Yes, 1 know them." replied Brandon.
1 * W11V VAll ll-n n !
* *?'? ?,iv " i?viivti iiiruauiui
Teach me at once! How, now, master
of the (Innee? llere is your friend outdoing
you In your own line."
"I am glad to hear it," I returned.
"If Lady Jane will kindly play some
lively air written in the time of 'The
Sailor Lass,' I will teach the Lady Mary
the new dance," said Brandon.
Jane threw one plump little knee over
the other and struck up "The Sailor
Bass." After she had adjusted the
playing to Brandon's suggestion he
stepped deliberately in front of Mary
and, taking her right hand in his left,
encircled her waist with his right arm.
The girl was startled at first and drew
away. This nettled Brandon a little,
and he showed It plainly.
"I thought you wished me to teach
you the new dance," he said.
"I do, but?but I did not know it was
danced that way," she replied, with a
fluttering little laugh, looking up into
his face with a half shy, half apologetic
manner and then dropping her lashes
before bis gaze.
"Oh, well!" said Brandon, with a
Frenchman's shrug of the shoulders,
and then moved off as if about to leave
the fli>or.
"But Is that really the way you ?
they dance it?with your -their arm
around my?a lady's waist?"
"I should not have dared venture up
on such n familiarity otherwise," answered
r.rnmlon, with a glimmer or n
smile playing around iiis lips and hiding
In his eyes.
Mary saw this shadowy smile and
said: "Oh, 1 fenr your modesty will
cause you hurt. I am beginning to believe
you would dare do anything you
wish. I more than half suspect you
are a very l>old man, notwithstanding
your smooth, modest manner."
"You do 1110 foul wrong. I assure you.
I am the soul of modesty, and grieve
that you should think me bold," said
Brandon, with a broadening smile.
Mary interrupted him. "Now, I do
believe you are laughing at me?at iny
prudery, I suppose you think it"
Mary would rather hare been called
a fool thuu a prude, and 1 think, site
~y
I was rtght. I'rudcry is 110 mote h sign
of virtue Uinn n wig Is of liuir. It is
usually put oil to hide a bald place,
j The princess stood irresolute for a
moment in evident hesitation and au*
noyance.
"You are grieving because I think
you bold. And yet you stand there
i laughing at me to uiy face. I think so
j more than ever now. I know It. Ob,
! you make me angry! Don't! I do not
I like persons who anger me and then
! laugh at me." This turned Brandon's
! smile into a laugh, which lie could not
i bold back.
Mary's eyes shot tire, and she stamped
her foot, exclaiming: "Sir, this goes
beyond all bounds! I will not tolerate
your boldness another moment." I
thought she was going to dismiss him,
but she did not. The time had come
When lie or slie must !>?? tli?> tnnOi.f
It was a battle royal between the
farces on the floor, and I enjoyed it ami
felt that Hrandon would conic out all
right.
lie said good Inunoredly: "What!
Shall you have all the laugh in your
sleeve at my expense? Do you expect
to bring me here to win a wager for
you made on the assumption of my
stupidity and lack of social accomplishments
and then complain when It
comes my turn to laugh? I think I am
the one who should be offended, but
you see I am not."
"CaskodOn, did >ai tell him?" demanded
Mary, evidently referring to
the wager.
"lie said not a word of it," broke in
Hrandon, answering for mo. "1 should
have been u dullard indeed not to have
seen it myself after what you said
about the loss of your 10 crowns. So
let us cry quits and begin again."
Mary reluctantly struck her tlag.
"Very well, I am willing," she said
laughingly; "but, as to your boldness,
I still insist upon that. 1 forgive you,
however, this time." Then Imir
p ....... U|/VIVgetically,
"After all, it is not such a
grievous charge to make. 1 believe It
never yet injured any man with women.
They rather like it, I am afraid,
however angry it makes them. Don't
they, Jane?"
Jane, of course, did not know, so
we all laughed, as usual, upon the
slightest pretext, and Mary, that fair 9
bundle of contradictions and quick
transitions, stepped boldly up to llrandon,
with her colors flying In her
cheeks, ready for the lirst lesson in the
new dance.
She was a little frightened at his arm
around her waist, for the embrace was
new to her?the lirst touch of man?and
was shy and coy, though willing, being
determined to learn the dance. She
was an apt pupil and soon glided softly
and graciously around the room with
unfeigned delight, yielding to the new
situation more easily as she becamo
accustomed to it.
This dance was livelier exercise than
La Galliard. and Mary could not talk
much for lack of breath, r.randon kept
the conversation going, though, and she
answered with glances, smiles, nods
and monosyllables, a very good vocabulary
in its way, and a very good way,
too. for that matter.
Once lie said something to her in a
low voice, which brought a flush to licr
checks and caused her to glance quickly
up into his face, lty the time her
answer ennie they were nearer us, and
I heard her say: "I am afraid I shall
have to forgive you again If you are
not careful. Let ine see an exhibition
of that modesty you so much boast."
Hut a smile and a flash of the eyes
Went with the words and took nil the
sting out of them.
After a time the dancers stopped, and
.miry, wiui uusiicu nice and sparkling
eyes, sank into a elialr, exclaiming:
"The new dance is delightful, Jane. It
is like Hying, your partner helps you so.
But what would the king sny?and the
queen? She would simply swoon with
horror. It is delightful, though." Then,
with more confusion in her manner
than I had ever before seen, "That is,
it Is delightful if one chooses her partner."
This only made matters worse and
gave Brandon an opportunity.
"Dare I hope?" lie asked, with n deferential
bow.
"Oh, yes; you may hope. I tell you
frankly it was delightful with you.
Now, are you satisfied, iny modest one?
Jane, I see we have a forward body
here. No tolling what lie will be at
next," said Mary, with evident impatience,
rapidly swaying her fan. She
spoke almost sharply, for Brandon's
attitude was more that of an equal
than she was accustomed to, and her
royal dignity, which was the artificial
part of her, rebelled against it now nud
then in spite of her real Inclinations.
The habit of receiving only adulation
and living on a pinnacle above everybody
else was so strong from continued
nfnnt ?r?o !!? ?* 1 .?1?1 * - >
, ....... .V <I|.|?-41IV-U IU IIIT HX a
duty to maintain that elevation. Sbo
had never ln'fore been called upon to
exert herself in that direction, and tlie
situation was new. The servile ones
with Whom she usually associated
maintained it for her; so she now felt,
whenever she thought of It, that sho
was In duty hound to clamher hnek, at
least part of the way, to her dignity,
however pleasant it was personally
down below in the denser atmosphere
of informality.
.? 1
[TO BE CONTINUE?.] J
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