Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-06-16

ly of the Bourchiers, Lords Berners the faith
er of promising family, and engaged in courts
and camps little did he once think that a cois-
ter would be his retreat in age, and the book
OF the stars his solace better for him had it
not been. But in the earlier contests of the
Roses he had suffered loss in one of those
wide-spreading epdemics which were always
termed the plague, all his family, save one, had
been cut off, and Reynold Bourcher Quilted
England, to forget, in other lands, his sorrows
and his losses. At length, after many years
absence, he returned, and through the favor of
that noble, who even then, swayed the desti-
nies of the house of York-Warwick-a por-
ton OF his lands, Lancastrain though he still
avowed himself, was restored to him, and he
took up his abode, and eventually the habit
by persuasion of his distant relative Cardinal
Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, in the
priOry of st. Martins lie Grand And there
engaged in the delusive study of astrology and
sincerely believing its truth, the learned canon
OF st. Martins passed his days, devoting all
his energies to the search into futurity, and to
wild and vain conjectureS what might be the
lot of that yonng boy-his only grandson
who, the son of an attainted Lancastrain, and
born amid poverty and ruin, had yet .been
pointed out by right learned aStrologer as he
! in whose hands " the fate of England's crown
should be-"
1t was in the evening of the 14th of April
1864, that DR.. ReynoId Bourcher was seated
at his desk in his study, while, occupying the
| high-backed oak armchair, with eyes intenty
and inquirngly fixed on him, safe a middle
aged, dark-haired stern-featured man, whose
loose cloak almost concealed from view the
gold-broidcred vest, sure proof, in that age of
sumptuary laws, that the wearer bore the rank
of an Earl But no ordinary nobleman was he
who sat watching earnestly, as the scholar the
lips of his teacher, the solemn brow of the as
trologer, but Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury
and Warwick, Lord High Chamberlain of En-
gland, Lieutenant of Ireland, and Captain of
Calais, that most fortunate of mobiles, that most
indomitable of warriors, that first of Edwards
subjects-if subject he might be called At
length DR.. Bourchier spoke. "There is jeop-
ardy, and much that time alone may discover;
still the stars point out a yet loftier destiny,
and seem to say "all things are possible to
Warwick"
But this secret mission to bring home
bride for Edward ? Said We not that he would
wed at home and said We not daughter Anne
should be queen y
So saith her horoscope but there are
other kings besides Edward" replied the as
| trologer
| Warwick looked angriIy at the speaker
What ! is the Red Rose to lift her head
again p
"What will be, will be-" was the solemn re-
ply; g for the present, the star of York is in
the ascendant"
And shall be, while Warwick hath voice to
command, or hand to fight no, the swan may
take wing, and the antelope flee, but the white
bear will ever be steadfast to the white falcon
of York"
Be calm, Lord Warwick said DR.. Bour-
CHER.
Ye are Lancastrain" returned Warwick
impetuOuSly, and therefore We see omens of
i'll to York"
L see none to York, but soothly see what
| would not in this mission when set you
out 2"
As speedily as fortunate day may be
found"
That will be long"
"Perchance, after all, my mission may not
succeed, for it is no wish of Edwards, and |
may see my first wish fulfilled, my grand-chil-
dren heirs to the crown of Plantagenet."
The astrologer drew huge book to him and
slowly turned over the leaves he paused, as
though engaged in anxious thought, and at
length sad Lord Warwick, wouldst thou
learn thy future destiny, watch when the Com
pin bell strikes, and thou shalt know"
Whatever be that destiny, shall ever ad-
here to York." said Warwick, sternly.
Say nought, Lord Warwick and
see"
"St. George thou bitter Lancastrain, shall
| who have sworn eternal hate to Margaret,
who with my own hands led King Henry to
the Tower-I, who swore through life and
death never to desert the cause of York, when
when We exchanged our rings before the high
altar at Canterbury-I, who placed with my
own hands the crown on young Edwards
head may, said We not yourselves that our
destinies are linked together for veal and for
wo?"
"For veal or for wo, Lord Warwick
and destnes may be linked in hate as in
love"
"They arc linked in love, old man." cried
Warwick fiercely. "Seek not to cozen me with
lying prophecies let the Red Rose, an she
dare, lift her head again still shall she find me
ready to throw down the gage, and bid my
dcadlest enemy take it up )" and, almost I'M
consciously, he started up, drew off his broi-
dered glove, and flung it on the ground
Touch it not, Lord Warwick" said the
astrologer, solemnly the hour is come, and
the man, for your deadliest enemy is at hand"
The deep-toned bell of ST. Martins toled
loud and clear, and Warwick, awe-struck, stood
gazing at the closed door.
Away, Lord Warwick !! there are footsteps
on the stairs hide behind the traverse" said
the astrol0ger, as with an interest that was
even painful, he watched the opening door
and him who now entered and entered laugh
ingly,
He was Of tall and singularly graceful figure;
of his features, which were shrouded, and evil