Cañon City record., 1903-12-17
IA Story Of Love and Chivalry, by
Edwin CaskOden.

flaming the fiickering passions of o-d
Louis with descriptions Of Mary's beau
ty. As there was q prospect OF new
emperor soon and as the imperial bee
had OF late been making a most vehe-
ment buzzing IN Henry's bonnet, be
encouraged De Longueyille and thought
1t would be a good time to purchase
the help OF France at the cost Of his
beautiful sister and handsome DOVER
Mary Of course had not been consulted.
and although she had coaxed her
brother out Of other marriage projects
Henry had gone about this as II he
were In earnest, and II was thought
throughout the court that Aary's COAX
ings would be all in vain-a fear which
she herself had begun to share. not
withstanding her usual self confidence.
She hated the thought Of the mar
rage and dreaded II as she would death
itself. though she said nothing to any
one but Jane and was holding her
forces in reserve for q grand attack.
She was preparing the way by being
very sweet and kind to Henry.
Now. all Of this coming upon the
heels Of her trouble with Brandon
made her most wretched indeed. For
the drs time In her life she began to
feel suifering-that great broadener. in
tact maker, of human character
Above ALL there was an alarming
sense Of uncertainty In everything She
could hardly bring herself to believe
that Brandon would really 60 to New
| Spain and that she would actually lose
him. although she did not want him as
yet--that il. az 4 prospective husband
| Flashes Of all sorts Of Wild schemes
had begun to shoot through her anger
and grief when she stared In the face
the prospect Of her double separation
from him, her marriage to another and
the countless miles Of fathomless sea
| that would be between them. She could
endure anything better than uncer-
tainty. A menacinG future IL the keen
est Of all tortures for any Of us to bear.
| but especially for = girl like Mary
Death itself II not 20 terrible as the
fear Of it
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
n prophet Of the futures forum.
teller.
His fame rested on several remark
able predictions which had been ful
filled to the letter. and really think
the man had some wonderful powers
! They said he was half Jew. half gyp
sy. md. If there Is alchemy in the mix
ing OF blood. that combination should
surely produce something peculiar Tho
| 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 q
| follower of witchcraft. many fine peo-
pie. Including some court ladies. con
tinred to go there by stealth in orde'
| to take dangerous. inquisitive peep
4 into the future.
Mary had long wanted to zee this
Grouche. at f1rst out Of mere curiosity.
but Henry. who was very moral-with
other peoples consciences-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 visit and had been dis
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 as
Innocent. II Ia equally true that the
large proportion OF persons who visited
Grouche made his soothsaying an ex-
cuse. The thought OF how wretched
life would he with Louis had put into
Mary's mind the thought of how sweet
Il would be with Brandon. Then came
the wish that Brandon had been a
prince or even a great English noble
man. and then leaped up. all rainbow
huei 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 tits 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 h.la 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 10
themselves. and sensible people at that,
So Mary wanted to see Grouche, first,
through curiosity, in itself a stronger
motive than we give 1t credit for; sec
ond, to learn IL she would be able to
| dissuade Henry from the French mar