Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-07-06

tainty. a menacing future Is the Keen
est OF all fortunes for any OF US TO bear. |
but especially for a girl like Mary. /
Death itself is not so terrible as the \
fear OF IL.
Now, about this time there lived over
in Billingsgate Ward, the worst part |
of London. a Jewish soothsayer named |
Grouche. He was also an astrologer |
and had Of late grown into great fame
as prophet Of the future-a fortune
teller.
His fame rested on several remark
able predictions which had been full
filed to the letter. and really think
the man had some wonderful powers.
They said he was half Jew. half gyp-
sy. and. If there is alchemy in the mix
ing Of blood. that combination should
surely produce something peculiar. The
city folk were said TO have visited him
in great numbers. and. notwithstand-
ing the priests and bishops all con-
demned him as an imp of Satan and
follower OF witchcraft. many fine peo-
pie. including some court ladies. con-
tinued to go there by stealth in order
to take q dangerous, inquisitive peep
into the future.
Mary had long wanted to see this
Grouche at first out of mere curiosity.
but Henry, who was very moral-with
other peoples consciences-would not
think Of permitting it. Two ladies. La
dy Chesterfield and Lady Ormond. both
good and virtuous women, had been de-
;zf+ ND hod
graced and expelled from court in the
most cruel manner by order Of the
king himself.
Now. added to Mary's old time desire
to see Grouche. came a longing to know
the outcome of the present momentous
complication of affairs that touched
her so closely.
She could not wait for Time to unfold
himself aud drop his budget Of events
as he travelled. but she must plunge
ahead of him and know beforehand the
stores of the fates, an intrusion they
usually resent. ] need not tell you
that was Mary's only object in going,
nor that her heart was as pure as a
babes. quite as chaste and almost az
innocent. 1t is equally true that the
large proportion of persons who visited
Grouche made his soothsaying an ex-
cuse. The thought of how wretched
life would be with Louis had put into
Mary's mind the thought of how sweet
| II would be with Brandon. Then came
the wish that Brandon had been q
| prince or even q great English noble
man, and then leaped up, all rainbow
| hued, the hope that he might yet by
reason of his own great virtues, rise to
all of these and she become his wife.
But at the threshold of this fair castle
| came knocking the thought that per-
haps he did not care for her and had
deceived her to gain her favors. Then
she flushed with anger and swore to
herself she hated him and hoped never
to see his face again. And the castle
| faded and was waited away to the
realms Of airy nothingness.
| All, how people will sometimes lie to
| themselves, and sensible people at that!
So Mary wanted to see Grouche, first.
through curiosity, in itself stronger
motive than we give it credit for; Sec
ond, to learn if she would be able to
dissuade Henry from the French mar
riage and perhaps catch hint how to
do it, and last, but by no means least,
to discover the state of Brandon's
heart toward her.
by this time the last named motive
was strong enough to draw her any
whittier, although she would not ac-
knowledge it, even to herself, and i'll
truth hardly knew it, so full are we of
things we know not of.
So she determined to go to see
Grouche secretly and was confident she
could arrange the visit in such a way
that it would never be discovered.
One morning l met Jane, who told
me with troubled face that she and
Mary were going to London to make
some purchases, would lodge at Bride
well House and go over to Billings
gate that evening to consult Grouche.
Mary had taken the within into her
willful head. and Jane could not dis
suade her.
The court was all at Greenwich, and
nobody at Bridewell. so Mary thought
they could disguise themselves as
orange girls and easily make the trip
without any one being the wiser.
1t was then, as now, no safe matter
for even a man to go unattended
through the best parts of London after
dark, to say nothing Of Billingsgate
that nest OF water rats and cutthroats
But Mary did not realize the full dan
ger of the trip and would. as usual, al
low nobody to tell her.
She had threatened Jane with al
sorts Of vengeance if she divulged hel
secret, and Jane was miserable enough
between her fears on either hand. fol
Mary. though the younger, held her il
complete subsection. Despite her feal
of Mary. Jane asked me to go to Lon
don and follow them at distance. I'm
known to the princess. / was to be OF
duty that night at a dance given IL
honor OF the French ENJOYS who haC