The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-05-01


fear of 1t.
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 /
filled to the letter. and ! really think |
the man had some wonderful powers |
They said he was half Jew. half gyp- |
sy, and. IL there Is alchemy in the mix |
ing OF blood that combination should |
surely produce something peculiar. The
city folk were said 10 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-
Die. 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. mt first out of mere curiosity.
but Henry. who WIS very moral-with
other peoples consciences-would not
think OF permitting II. Two ladies. La
| dy Chesterfield aud Lady Ormond. both
good and virtuous women. had been de
| tected In such n visit and had been dis
| graced and expelled from court in the
most cruel manner 10y order OF the
king himself
| Now. added to Mary's old time desire
10 see Grouche. came n 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 I need not tell you
that was Mary's only object in going.
nor that her heart was as pure as q
babes. quite as chaste and almost as
Innocent IL 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 a
prince or even a great English noble
man. and then leaped mp. 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
1 L.. f.V. I.r MI hn.t
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 a stronger
motive than we give II credit for; sec
ond, to learn II she would be able to
dissuade Henry from the French mar
rage and perhaps catch a 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 10 draw her any
: whittier. although she would not nc
; knowledge it. even to herself. and II
: truth hardly knew II. so full are We Of
, things we know not of.
So she determined to go to se'
, Grouche secretly and was confident sh'
D could arrange the visit in such wa.
! that it would never be discovered.
J. One morning I met Jane. who told
D me with troubled face that she ane
!, Mary were going to London to maxi
t some purchases. would lodge at Bride
y well House and go over to Billings
; gate that evening to consult Grouche
Mary had taken the whim into he
willful head. and Jane could not dis
e suade her.
> The court was all at Greenwich. an
e nobody at Bridcwell. so Mary though
% they could disguise themselves n
e ornnge girls and easily make the tril
b without any one being the wiser.
J. Ii was then. as now. no safe matte
d for even a man TO go unattende'
J. through the best parts OF London afte
" dark. to say nothing OF Billingsgats
% that nest OF water rats and cutthroats
g. But Mary did not realize the full dar
10 ger Of the trip and would. Us usual. a
If low nobody TO tell her.
70 She had threatened Jane with a
Ii sorts OF vengeance IL she divulged he
.. secret. and Jane was miserable enoug
d. between her fears on either hand. 10
er Mary. though the younger. held her
t. complete subjection- Despite her fea
10 of Mary. Jane asked me to go to LoI
ht don and follow them ut u distance. III
Z known to the princess | was to be o
,h duty that night Mt n dance given
" honor Of the French ENJOYS who ha
q. Just arrived. bringing with them con
- mission OF special ambassador to L
Tn Longueyille to negotiate the treaty {
ny marriage. and II was impossible II
er me to go. Mary was going partly
X. avoid this ball, and her willful pc
ng sistency made Henry very angry.
regretted that ] could not go. but
he promised Jane I would send Brandc
N. In my place. and he would answer Il
or purpose OF protection far better this
to /. l suggested that Brandon take vii
In him a man, but Jane, who was
mortal fear OF Mary, would not lists
ng to II. So 1t was agreed that BrandS
he should meet Jane at a given place al
We learn the particulars. and this plan WI
wv carried out
'se Brandon went up to London and sa
as Jane. and before the appointed til
I'd. hid himself behind q hedge near Il
les private gate through which the giI
'er intended to take their departure fro
'cs Bridewell-
"a