The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-05-27
II s h n H h II H s. ~ n - II s n - " " IL q " u N u 81 II q 81 n *

: " ~ ~ " ~ " " ~ 9NS7sS ~ w
but Henry, who vas very moral-with
other peoples. conscienccs-would not
think of permitting 1t. Two ladies, La
dy Chesterfield and Lady Ormond. both
good and virtuous women, had been de
tected in such II visit and had been die.
graced and expelled from court i'm the
most cruel name by order of the
king himself.
Now, added to Mary's old time desire
to see Groucle. came a longing to know
the outcome of the present momcntous
complication of affairs that touched
her so closely.
She could not whit for Time to unfold
himself aud drop his budget of events
rs he travelled. but she must plunge
ahead of him and know beforehand the
stores of the fatcs, an intrusion they
usually resent. / need not tell you
that was Mary's only object in going,
nor that her heart was as pure ~ II
babes, quite as chaste and almost as
innocent. 1t Is equally true that the
large proportion OF persons who visited
Grouchc made his soothsaying an
cusc. The thought OF how wretchcd
life would be with Louis had put into
Mary's mind the thought Of how sweet
it would be with Brandon. Then came
the wish that Brandon had been q
prince or eve u 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 falr 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 h hated him and hoped never
to see his face again. And the castle
faded and was waited away to the
realms Of airy no%thingness.
All, how people will sometimes lie to
themselves, and sensible people at that!
So Mary wanted to see Grouchc, first,
through curiosity, in itself II 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 n hint how to
do it, and last, but by no mean 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 &C
knowledge it, wen to herself, and In
truth hardly knew 1T, 80 full are we Of
things we know not of.
So she determined to go to see
Grouche secretly and was confident she
o~.,lI --,-., 4I,.> ,.t.tA L. ,,,l. -,--
that 1t would never be discovered.
One morning / met Jane, who told
me with troubled face hat she and
Mary were going to London to make
some purchases, would lodge at Bride
well House and 20 owe 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 Bridcwcll, SO Mary thought
they could disguise themselves as
orange girls and easily make the trip
without any IL being the wiser.
1t was then, as now, no safe matter
for even IL man TO go unattended
through the best parts OF London after
dark, to say nothing of Billingsgntc,
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 all
sorts of vengeance If she dlvulgcd her
secret, and Jane was miserable enough
between her fears on either hand, for
Mary thnnOh tho ynlINrnr hold hnr I'm
complete subsection. Despite her fear
of Mary, Jane asked me to so to Lon
don and follow them at n distance, I'M
known to the princess. L was to be on
duty that night ut n dance given In
honor of the French ENJOYS who had
just arrived, bringing with them COM
mission OF special ambassador to De
~LOngueville to negotiate the treaty Of
marriage, and 1t was impossible for
me to go. Mary was going partly to
avoid this ball, and her willful per-
sistonCy made Henry very angry. !
regretted that | could not go, but |
promised Jane I would send Brandon
In my place, and he would answer the
purpose OF protection far better than
l.. 1 suggested that Brandon take with
him a man, but Jane, who was In
mortal fear Of Mary, would not listen
to 1t. So 1t was agreed that Brandon
should meet Jane mt a given place and
learn the particulars, and this plan was
carried out.
Brandon went up to London and saw
Jane, and before the appointed time
hid himself behind a hedge near the
private gate through which the girls
Intended to take their departure from
Bridewell.
They would leave ABOUT dusk and re-
turn, SO Mary said, before it grew
dark.
The citizens of London ut that time
paid very little attention to the law
requiring them 10 hang out their lights.
and when 1t was dark it was dark.
Scarcely was Brandon safely en-
scpnsed behind a elump OF arbor vitm
when whom should he SEQ coming down
the path toward the gate but his grace,
tho Duke of Buckingham, He was
met by Que of the Bridewell servants
who was In attendance upon the prin-
cess.
Eyes, your grace, this is the gate"
said the girl. "You can hide yourself
and watch them as they go. They will
pass out on this path. As I said, I do
not know where they are going. 1 only
overheard them say they would go out
-R5Ak |,