Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-12-25
THE SEAWALL SPECTER.
A CHRISTMAS FANTASY.
ny LILY ourry.l
PART 1.-THE APpARiTI0N.

PART Tile APPARITION.
The night was one of those splendid,
steel-whlte marvels Of the wintry world.
The full moon, carly risen, stood forth In
calm dominion over the 1Ialdon hills; the
Sigh Of the sea was hushed below the old
seawall And from every window,
throughout the village, In sheltered hol-
low or up the sandy slope Of the hill and
far and wide upon its summit, glad home
lights were twinkling, unabashed by the
yastor radiance without, while now and
then the music rang clear on the stiffness
OF the night, the CHEEKY melody of kind
ling aud thankful hearts. For once again
the season was at hand when strife should
cease; when wrong should be forgiven,
spite forgotten; when the angels In heaven
should slug with wild Joy over newborn
tenderness ON earth. IL was Christ
mas eve in the old Dcvonshire town.
But there was one heart which neither
sang n5r kndled; one soul which turned
aside cnshrouded In the bitterness OF It's
own knowledge In n private parlor of
the towns main inn, cherries place ut
best, young man moved restlossly to
and fro IA handsome fellow whose years
might perhaps have numbered twenty.six
or seven, and whose manner suggested
haughliness. There was another occupant
of the room-an elderly gentleman, who,
though stlll seated and reclining in the
rudest possible conception OF an easy
chair, held an overcoat and hat as II In. |
tending shOrtltto set out upon Jour |
ney. There WIS little resemblance be-
tween the twoJ the elder was fair, with |
delicate featureE and finnish gray-yelow
hair, while the young mans countenance
showed strength and darkness indica.
tive OF Southern blood and passion. Young
Maurice Du Viyer had inherited little
save the lofty pride Of his beautiful En-
glish mother Perhaps his uncle-for
such In fact was the elder-bore this in
mind as he spoke again, addressing his
young companion In the suaye, easeful
voice Of titled birth.
"Thcre Is yet time, Maurice" he said.
There Is quarter of an hour before the {
rain leaves. Reconsider and 20 home
With me you will meet n number OF agree. I
Ible people Mt Gruntlcy Manor Your s
.ousln Evelyn viii be glad to know you q
ifter all these years You were but d
mere child when your poor mother last Z
rought you to nee us. And surely Won I
an look to your business here quite as r
yell fortnight later. It's poor notion i
D spend ones Christmas in such n $
lshion" Il
Shaking hishead, the other replied In a z
dice of mingled sweetness and bitter o
ess-the litter in prepondcrance g
"Thank you again, Sir Reginald; but Il
IN hardly IN III mood for meeting any n
nc. BY aud by, perhaps, but not al Il
resent. Christmas is no more TO me n
)w than any other day, and am as com.
rtablc in one spot rs in another" He 81
fused little, then resumed with the a
Of sudden recollection. at h
as exceedingly kind of you to call upon b,
g coming out OF your way as you did. ei
assure you am grateful d But d
think ia better remain and look after u
y property interests here"
Sir Reginald arose, not disturbed ap. hi
.iently by bis nephew's declining the IA
vitaton. A slender gentleman of low W
lturo aud graceful carriage, he pre- Ii,
rived as rule continuous, sweet hl