Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-07-09

IDuhe of ST. Adams Collecsioul
ticuinriy opposed Failing b. persuade
the king Co nullify IL, the favorite got
into a great temper. She locked her
elf ia her hous- and refused To see his
majesty. This drove the king " dis
traction He finally appeared under
her window In the dead of night
and besought sdmittsnce, declaring
he would do anything for love Of Nell
Nell opened her window and threw
down . paper which proved TO be
copy of the obnoxious edict. She COM
manded the Monarch 10 eat Il aud
swsar newer TO offend her 90 again.
Charles obsdiently devoured the parch-
ment and the beautoous ono capitu-
lated
One night the king came TO Nell
complaining that no was worn out with
cares Of state and must be amused.
She suggested . game Of hare and
hounds- Charles attired himself In an
old doublet and breeches while his
mistress pat ON . masquerade suit. So
sccoutered, the two filed their pockets
with small coin and Nell, having inn
provised bit which the king took in
his mouth held . line attached To IL.
Then the lovers went helterskelter
along the dark London streets, cry
ing: "Harc and hounds! hare and
houndsi" scattering money rs they
went. OF course every night prowler
within . mile was after the pair pell-
nell. and Van Bossen tells how all
the citizens got up out Of their beds
at last. thinking Englsnd's capital was
ON fire.
Nell had rivals for tho kings favor.
but she triumphed over them all A
French woman. whom Charles had
made duchess of Portsmouth. seemed
the English girl for having been born
In q coal hole. A bitter war arose be-
tween those two and the court Of Eng
land became n warm place in conse-
quence for everybody. the king in
eluded.
Nell had a second son who died in
his ninth year. whereupon Charles
threatened to destroy himself. The
first son. named after the king, was
ennobled aid in time betrothed 10 the
hcircss OF the twentieth earl Of Ok
ford. From this youth are descended
tho many sristocrats who to-day are
proudly aiding 70 discover and honor
the grave Of Nell Gwynne.
The closing years of King Charles
reign were the most brilliant OF Nelfs
life. The luxury and magnificence in
which she lived. the splendor of her
beauty and the fame of her con luests.
when. clad In costly velvet. rare satin
and the jewels of an Indian idol. she
frrquented the royal drawing rooms.
coqu~tted with the conrticrs and
sambled away fortunes with the Ouch
ess OF Msxarin and Lady Cavendish.
filed all England and all France.
Not a poet. playwright or author but
kneat before her for patronage, and
Nell. who could not even write her own
name. became literzturcs sponsor In
England
The estrava9sncc OF eulogy became
absolutely bissphemousl Mrs. Aphra
Behor wrote % Nell 0vynne. entreat.
ing leave IN adore her because the di-
vine powers were nothing In compare
son with Mistress Eliens. There ARE
vague rumors 90 loss. degraded beg
gar maid appearing before Nell at this
time. claiming IN be her sister and he.
ing ANONYMOUSLY spurned. Most bios
rsphsrs consider this story but the
fabrication If romancers-
Tn. king Is dead was proclaimed
throughout England In February. 1885
snd Scll-s power died with his maj es
" Although the late kings bro,her
snd successor WAS kind and liberal.
Mistress Gwynne could not publicly
fsce her deposltion from the throne Of
love and she lived IN strict re,iremen,
antil her death. November. Ies7. Apo
plexy carried her of a. the age OF
tairty-eirht