Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-05-30
LIVING OR DEAD.
A POSTHUMOUS PUBLICATION.
BY HUGH CONWAY.
Copyrighted 1851

"Walt I'll we arO indoors; l can tel
you better there"
We reached tbs house. Valentine led
the way TO the smoking-room. AS
looked at him felt that he WAS brother
10 be proud Ola son q father should
glory In His toll, well-formed figure
his fight, elastic stepi his bright hair and
eyes; his whole sunny, gay appearance
together with that Irresistible charm OF
address, made me wonder whether, after
enjoying 50 many years the foremost
place In my fathers affections, should
not now have TO yield II 70 this new son.
He threw himself into chair and took
a cigar, Snow Philip, fire away, ] am
all attention, Although | can guess
what you are gOing to say, the time is
come when, cruel fathers notwithstand-
ing, you and Claudlne have fixed the day,
/ Am | rghtP'
"Ntyer further from IL. Don't light
4 your cigar; you Won't smoke II yet"
lie looked at me In surprise lie saw |
was not TESTING.
"You have something serious 20 talk
about"
"Yos, so serious that don't know
! how TO beglu."
He waited my pleasure.
"Vaientinc," ! began, az have come
! from your mother"
"My mother. She is not M"
No quite al. But she sent me to
you .
~ never thought Of asking you about
| her. She was In Dorsctshire day or
two ago. did not think II possible you
could have mot her. What does she
want2"
"she wants you to come 10 her at once.
To come back with mc.n (
"Of course Will, dear woman. 1t is
ages since saw her, We Will start to-
morrow
"No to-day. must tell you she left
Dorsetshirc with me yesterday
"Yuu brighten me, Philip. You look 80
grave ana mysterious. FELL me again
/ she Is wen and happy"
] "Both.r
"Where Is she--in London2"
'No. She is only twenty miles away.
Can you not guess wheref'
The ruth, or something like II, came
TO him. HIS face showed signs Of strong
excitement, His eyes were fixed ON mine
as though striving to make sure before he
put his thought into words
"At Estmsre Court2" he whispered
ono. But the very next thing TO IT,. AT
the Dover House"
"Then Sir Laurence Estmere Is dead?n
your father and motherar together"
His surprise was unhounded.
TEL me all everything" he cried.
'She cannot have stopped so low as to
have gone back as soon as he had beck
oned her reparation aud utone-
ment.
~ know little OF what has passed he
tween thcIn, all know Is that her lnno-
cenee is completely proved +"
al never needed proof said Yalen.
Tine, scorntnily. "But tell mo all
al can only tell you very shortly now.
Since That day we visited Estmere Court
together, Vowed that would get at the
truth. That Is why | affected friendship
Tor Gresham. TIE clew came by accident.
| followed II u the end, and brought such
evidence to Lord ROthwell that he could
Jay II before your father with the certain.
w OF sweeping every doubt from his
niind' can say no more at present,
your mother Is at the Dover House and
you must 20 to her immediately"
He made no reply, lie sat twisting
something neryously between his fingers
For while he remained In deep thought,
Does ne does my father wish me TO
Gomez he asked at length.
''Certaiuly he does said boldly. Gle
Is III, and your mother is nursing him" "
"Ihen will obey my mother. Yet,
now llttle thought that should 90 to
that man the moment he wished lt.n
"Of course you will go TO him. Happy
DAYS are coming, Valentine, for all OF
u.s.
lie paused, then asked, "what is he
llkor Have you seen himg
" have seen great deal OF him lately.
Men'lne, let ne entreatyou 20 get rid OF
gu preludices. Wait TIL you meet your
iatner' Ia weeks time you will love
him dearly,n
"Never, | am afraid but VIII do my
uuly' Bnt how strange II all seems.
HOW strange that you, Phillp, should
nave brought this about 1t was happy
day Tor me when tirst met you, Philip
"And happier for me, when all Is
SHOWN II give you anything, you give
His mind was too much disturbed to
words.
when shall we startfp he asked
''How shall we get over theref"
~ have a horse. You must get some
thing to carry you, Rothwell told me
there were horses here.''
us Rothwell with my mother?r
YES waiting toryou. But, Valentino
Fa'ui there II someone else you ought
70 ask lot Have you nothing TO say about
your brothers"
HIS brow grew dark "Nothingl l
VIII forgive my father, because he Is my
ialhefi ana my mother forgiyCs him. will |
Wy 70 love him. But between my
ntother ana myself there can DO nothing |
- sommon ! VIII neither see nor speak !
You cannot help yourself You have
already done so.n
"Unwlt ingly them
iVsi Shall tell you more, ValentlneY
tather.n 'NN'
"Where tel me, phnlp. Do po,
make any more mys.erlesYn
He bad not the faintest idea ~ mv
lIe thought that he must have
encountered his father and ms brother
IN society. He was as npnre'
pared for the revelation as was whom (
Rothwell came 20 ME in the dinine. room 1
1t Torwood.
"fou saw and talked 10 your father
mat morning when you were sketchInc ON \
he moor~-the day you left Torwood.n
he would not understand. could |
iot have believed Vaient.ne was so dense,
That are you talking about, phllipy I
Y was sour father saw
Yes, = was my father, and yonrs, Val.
milne valentine we shall not ne the
ess friends because we ara bro,hers,u
took both his hands aud wrung them.
nut you are Philip Norrls,n he cried. /
Net after to-day. If Sir Laurence /
.semere chose TO hide himself for years |
lnder the name OF William Norris, now