The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 18, 1903, Page 1

TR LAN DALE, York dramatic his debut as a writer y Call February 1; by Mrs. C. N, Wil- “The Turnpike House,” Other an- be mede later, > him, 1 suppo: Ver greater for the -princess R I win s Go s o GOLA LT WL T YOV or AS A WOrrA T SUT AS A 2ZAN " sunk and the woman was dominant, with flushed face and flashing eyes that caught a doubie luster from the glow- ing love that made her heart beat so fast Her gown, t0o, was the best she could have worn to show her charms. She must have known Brandon was there, ana must have dressed especially to go to him. She wores her favorite long flowing outer sleeve, without the close- fitting inner one. It was slit to the shoulder, and gave entrancing glimpses of her arms with every movement, lea ing them almost bare when she lif ed her hands, which was often, for she was full of gestures as a Frenchwoman. Her bedice was cut low both back and front, showing her 1large, perfectly molded throat and neck, like an alabaster pillar of beauty and strength, and disclosing her bosom just to its shadowy incurving, white and billowy as drifted snow. Her hair was thréwn back in an attempt at 2 coll, though, like her own rebellious nature, it could not brook restraint, and persistently escaped in a hundred littie curls that fringed her face and lay n the soft white nape of her neck like fluffy shreds of sun-lit floss on new-cut tvory With the mood that was upon her I wonder Brandon maintained his, self-re- raint even for a mom He felt that only ~hope lay in e, S0 he at ide her and said nothing. He told me long “afterward that while sitting there in the Inter: oddest, wild: brain.” He s between her speech st thougl.ts through wondered how he could cape. He thought of the window and that possibly he might break away through it, and then he thought of fei ing iliness and a hundred other absurd schemes, .but they all came to nothing, and he sat there to let events take their own course, as they seemed determined to do in spite of him. After a short silence Mary contfnued, alf banteringly: ‘‘Answer me, sir! I 1 have no more of this. You. shall treat nfe at least with the courtesy you would show a bourgeoise girl.' nis “Oh. that you were only a burgher's daughter.” “Yes, I know all that: but T am not. It can’t 'be helped, and-you shall answer me. “There is no answer, dear, lady—I beg you—oh, /4o you not see—'" Yes, yes: but wer my question: I kind—more than you deserve ndeed. yes; a thousand times. You ways been so.kind, so gracious ) condescending to me that [ can nly thank® you, thank yeu, thank you,” answered Brandon aimost shyly, not dar- ing to lift his eyes to hers. Mary saw the manner quickly enough— what woman eyer missed it, much less so lieen-eyed a girl as she—and it gave her comfidence and brought back the easy bawter of her old-time manner. “How modest we have become! Where boldness of which we used to have so_much? Kind? Have I always been s0? How about the first time I met you? Was I kind then? And as to condescen- sion, don’t—don’t use that word between us. No," returned Brandon, who, in his turn, 'was recovering himself, ' “no; I can't say that yqu were very kind at first. How you did fly out at me and sur- prise me. It was so unexpected it almost took me off my feet,” ‘and they both Jaughed in remembering the scene of their first meeting. “No, .l can't say your kindness showed y strongly that first interview, but it was there nev- ertheless, -and when Lady Jane led me back your real nature asserted itself, as it always does, and you were kind to me; kind as only 3 beg” That was gettinz very near to the se tmental; dangerously near, he thoughts and he said to himself: “If this does not end quickly I shall have to escape.’” :You are easily satisfled it you call t good,” laughingly returned Mary. § be ever so much better than that if [ try.” Let me see you try,” said Brandon. “Why, I am trying now,” answered Mary: with a distracting little pout. “Don’t you know gq’lulne out-ani-out goodness when you see it? I'm doing my very best right low. Can‘t you tell?” “Yes, I think I recognize it; but—but— be bad.again.” 0, I won't! T will not be bad even to please you; I have determined not to be bad and I will not—not even to be good. This,” placing her hand over her 77O DY ITORS heart, “is just full of ‘good to-day,™ &nd her lips parted as sbe .«ughed at bhey own pleasantry. “l am afrald you had better be bad— I giv you falr warning,” sald Brandon huskily. He felt her eyes upon him all tne time and his stren, good re- solves w cozing out wine from an ill-coopered cask. A a short si- lence Mary continued, regardicss of the warning: “But the position is reversed with us; first 1 was d to you and you were kind to « wow 1 am kind to you and you a to me.” I can c at you with your words,” respc on. “You n't know wh to you. I should be kinder to my t least, were I to leave you and také myself to the e of the world.” other “Oh! that is you about. Ja; to New Spain She was the que: tion, wh As a g it only toe she was a [ : 1 wanted to ask you are going ixious to know, but asked standing next to the st kingdom on earth; the heir apparent— idren—for the people Scotech King's Imp— f such a thing as uld not deny it for houg rerself leasure of being near s of seeing 2 and hear ones of lis voice, and now and & the thrill of an accidental had enough good sense t w that mu- t £ tk s, taking r sranted ti er, as she telt a b thought of between people so brink es they. The was & plac of the sweet ecstasies turilling joys of & seventh heavenm, but over the brink—well, tk d be no * for who was sh o was he? These two dread facts could not be forgott £ be- tween them cou she knew that only too well. No ome bet- ter. Erandon answered her question: not know about going; I t K 1 have volunteered with a ship that salls in tws or three weeks from Bristol, and 1 suppose I shall g “Oh, no! do you really mean {7 It §ave her a pang to bear that he was actually going, and her love pulsed higher; but she also felt a sense of rellef, somewhat as a conscientious house- brcaker might feel upon finding the door securely locked against him. It would take away a temptation which she could not resist, and yet dared not yleld te much longer. L I think there is no doubt that I mean it,” repiied Brandon. “I should like te remalnp in Fngland until I can save enough money out of the King's allow ance to pay the debt against my father's estate, so that 1 may be able to go away and feel that my brother and sisters are secure in their home—my brother is not but I know it is be for me to g0 ncw, a nd noney out there. I « id 1 I lost to J cheating.” ever alluded to the due of it, in Mary's mind, adde of féar to her feeling toward him. She looked up with a light In her eyes and asked: “What is the debt? How much? Let me give you the monmey. I have 50 much more than I need. Let me pay it. Please tell me how ch it fs and I will hand it to you. You can come rooms and get It or I will send you. Now ' tell me that I ma Quickly.” "And she was allve with en- thusiastic interest. “There now! you are kind again; as kind as even you can be. Be sure I thank you, although I say it only once,™ and he looked into her eyes with a gaze she could not stand even for an Instant This was growing dangerous agal catching himself the conver- fon back into t s vein. “Ah! you want to j debt_that I have no excuse to rema Is that Perhaps you are not so kind after ! no! you know better. But let me pay the debt. How much is it and to whom is it owing? Tell me at oace, I command you."” ! no! Lady Mary, T cannot.” > do. I beg—if I cannot cem- Now I know you ; you would ke me beg twice for anything.” w closer to him as she spoke, and her coaxingly upon his arm. mptlse he took the d it to his lips in t could not be mis- k and so full t Mary took s, for the mo- ment ppermost 2 ter Brandon!” she exclaimed y and drew away her hand. Bran- pped the hand and at. river. Thus hand resting list- between them movement away dow toward th e, Brando upon ‘the cushio w the eloquent his speaking attitude, with then the Princess went into ecliy and the imperfal woman was nt once more. She looked at him a_ brief space with softening eyes, lifting her hand, put it back in hi e it is again—If you want it." Want it? Ah! This i3 too much! The hand would not satisfy now; it must be all And he caught her to his arms with a violence that frightened her 2! don't, this time. lea case! Not Ah! Charl— Weil! There! - * * Mary mother, for- Then her woman spirit fell he whirlwind of his passion, and she on his breast with her white arms around hjs neck, paying the same tribute to the little blind god that he uld have exacted from the lowllest ‘en of the land. Just as though it the blood of fifty Kings and at made so red and sweet, aye, ectar thrice distilled, those lips S0 freely paid their dues im Brandon held the-girl for a moment or two, then fell upon his knees and buried r lap. me he cried. She pushe 1e hair back frum his fore. head with her hand, and as she fondled the curls leaned over him and softly whispered “Helaven help us both; for I love you!” He sprang to his feet on't! don’t! I pray yon,” he said wildly, and almost ran from her. Mary followed him nearly to the doer of the room, but when he turned he saw. that she had stopped and was standing with her hands over her face, as if in tears. He went back to her and sald: “T tried