The San Francisco call., 1903-01-18

Mary. Death is not so terrible as the fear
CT t.
Now about this time there lived over in
Bilinesgate u aTd--the worst part of Lon
don-a Jewish soothsayer named Grouche.
lie was also an astroioger and had of
late grown INTO great fame as prophet OF
the future-a fortuneteller.
HIS fame rested on several remarkah bile
predictions which had been fulfile ed to the
letter, and | really think the man had
some wonderful powers. They said he was
chemy in the mixing of blood, that comb
nation shou d sutely produce something
peculiar. The city folk were sa d u have
visited him in great numbers and MT
Withstand ne the p.iest- az
condemned him as an imp of satan and
follower of witc chcraft. many fine people.
including some court ladies' continued to
so there by stealth in order NJ take
dangerous. inquisitlve peep into the fu-
ture. | say by stealth: because his osten-
5 bile occupation of soothsayirg a for
tune telling was not his only bus ness.
Ills house was rea ~ place Of dl'c I
meeting. ard the s5othsaytng was often
this osters bic occupation. he wou q not
have been allowed to Keep h's house
within the wall. but would have been re-
egated TO his proper piace-BTidge Ward
Without
Mary had Iorg wanted to see this
Crou, he. at fiTst cut Of mere curtos ";
hut Henry. who was very mora with
think cf pf pfrmittire it, Two lad IS. q y
Chesterfield and Lady Ormopd. DOth good
ard Virtuous women. had been detected
in such a visit ard had been diserac d
and expelled from court in the mos, cruel
manner by order Of the King mselt.
Naw. added 10 Mary's d-t me Il sire to
see Grpuche came longing to know the
outcr ne of the present monent9us COM
pif aton of affairs that touched her 50
Clcse'y
She could not wait for Time TO urfold
himself, ard drop h's budget of events as
he Travelled. but sha must piunge ahead
Of him. and know, beforehand: the he
they usually resent ! need not tell
you that was Mary's only object
in going nor that her heart Tt was
ehaste eh pure ard as almost 0"0a as innocent,
II is equally true that the large proper
tiou of persons who visited Grouche made
his soothsayine an re- excuse m ne ,t th9ugns ns'
had put into Mary's mind the thought OF
how sweet IL would be with Brandon;
Then came the wish that Brandon NJ, had
been a Prince, or even great English
nob'eman and then leaped up. AL RAIN
bow-hued the hope that he might yet
by reason of his own virtues rise to al.
Of these and she become his Wife. but
at the threshold of this fair castle came
knocking the thought that perhaps he did
not care for her. and had deceived her tG
gain her favors. Then she flushed witt
arger ard swore to herself she hated
him. and hoped never to. see his, face
again. And the castle faded and was
WdttSu away 10 the IcdiAAS VI al ANHAA
ingness.
All! how people will sometimes lie t
themselves and sensible people at that
So Mary wanted to see Grouche; first
through curiosity. in itself stronger
motive than we give 1t credit for; second
10 learn If she would be able to dissuad.
Henry from the French marriage ant
perhaps catch hint how to do II; anc
last. but by no means least, TO discover
the state of Brandon's heart toward her
BY this time the last-named motive wa:
strong enough to draw her any whlther
although she would not acknowledge 1t
even to herself, and in truth hardly knew
1T; SO full are we of things we know
not OF.
So she determined to 60 to see Crouch,
secretly, and was confident she could ar
range the visit In such q way that
would never be discovered.
One morning I met Jane, who told me
with troubled face, that she and Mar.
were going to London to make some pur
chases, would lodge at Bridewell House
and go over to Billings gate that eveninl
: to consult Grouche Mary had taken tn
whim into her willful head, and Jan
could not dissuade her.
The court was all at Greenwich and no
body at Bridewell, so Mary thought the
could disguise themselves as orange girl
and easily make the trip without any on
being the wiser
1t was then, as now. no safe matter TO
even man to go unattended through tn
) best parts of London, to say nothing O
Billingsgate, that nest of water-rats an
; cut-throats. But Mary did not realize tn