Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18

III UtI BUN anu AlHuEnNNAF ~ WAC NtNuuHt
praised, truthfuily enough, the boys
talents, that she admitted me into her
friendship. SO far as I could sum the
woman up, she was a vain, somewhat
bad-tempered, creature, fearful, / am
sure, that her low origin would be dis
covered.
She told me, when, after a while, she
began to be confidential to me, that her
late husband was lawyer, who died
young and left her with two children,
and very little TO rear them on. Whether
she spoke the whether she ever
was married---is a thing I have not yet
discovered, and having no interest IN the
/ discovery, shall not try 10 make II. She
seemed rather curious 20 know some
thing about myself, and having no object
! In cOnceGlment, | told her exactly where
/ came from and the little | knew about
my family. ! was amused to find from
several little tokens that her minute in
quifies had been made because she had
imblbed the perhaps not unnatural idea
that her daughters charms had induced
me to introduce myself 70 her family
circle.
The girl was nice, quiet, well-behaved
young woman, who played and sang very
sweet!y, but my heart was proof against
all attractions, and Mrs Merton must
soon have been convinced that she had
made a mistake In attributing my visits
to her daughters charms.
Then, fancy, a spice Of the old lady's
maid vanity and cOquetry made her won
der II 1t could be possible / came for her
own sake. After ell, she was not an old
woman, aud retained many traces Of good
looks. | must soon have undeceiyed her,
and left her to fall back upon my interest
In Charley, as an explanation for my
visits
Perhaps Mrs. Merton wished TO make
me believe that she had at one time
moved In good circles, for she frequently
mentioned the names OF distinguished
people, with whom she implied, rather J
than stated, she had an acquaintance in |
other days. These, no doubt, were per- |
sons whose existence became known 10 |
her while she served as Gady Estmere's |
maid. One day she said to me-
"lou know many people in London, |
suppose2"
"a great many"
"Do you know any people named Est
mere2n
could scarcely repress my start OF as
tonishment For a moment | hesitated
how TO answer her question.
81 know Lady Estmere, and her son
Valentine"
"Those are whom mean. What is she
ike now7"
"she ia very good looking, although
ler hair is quite white. Did you know
ier?n
eyes, before was married"
said no more, thinking 1t better to
walt her pleasure.
as she happy" she asked, after
PAUSE.
"liow can she be happy Her husband
eft her years ago, ana they tell me will
lever return to herr
"But great ladies get over that sort of |
hing, don't they2n
81 am not a great lady, Mrs Merton,
o can't say.n II
] wondered whether the woman was
BEGINNING TO feel compunction-whe s
led her to the point, she would make
clean breast. But 1t was too early TO
isk such step. I
"Do you know Sir Laurence Kstmere2n /
he asked.
mo. Since he left his wife he has {
over the face OF the earth, a [
'reiched man, believe" t
There was most curious expression In c
he woman's eyes. 1t was ha.f sorrowful, n
alf triumphant. z
aid.
ut Is long time-a long time for \
'oman TO bear the blame of the world, a | /
ing time for her to see her sons =
blasted; q son she loves most q
kelly as fondly as you love yours. OIL
curse, whatever happened was before !
ny time; but il Lady Estmere Is blame. /
rs, what must be the feelings OF those a
ho are To blame 2" n
| said more than intended to saw. She y
ave me startled lock, with suspicion 1
learly marked In IT.. 4
"No one can say Lady Estmere is Q
she said, almost sullenly. b
mot SO long as her husband condemns
CT. But she is friend OF mine, and | d
ispcct her. How did you know her d
STORY Was she friend OF yours ?" G
81 knew her slightly, but heard all the il
Tx at the time. You must please excuse n
~ Mr.. Norris. have one Of my head n
'hcs coming on, and must go and lie q
own :,
left her feeling sure that matters were b
oming to CRISIS. | scarcely knew 81
neither TO hope or to fear l had raised |
~ huSPiSlOu III ntr mlnl tlht | was ri
irticulary Interested in getting at the fr
uth concerning Lady Estmere. Still r.
II something was atoot which would le
zip me In the task | had undertaken m
'me accident or fatality N
But week went by quietly enough, the 81
lly thing OF note being that Mrs. Merton
as trying To avoid me. did not 20 10 W
% house so often now School had re. hi
,ened, and Charley's proper tutors took al
y place, sim, several evenings b,
He'd Ia and helped him with his studies of
ich time Mrs. Merton, after few polite dc
ords, disappeared, and / saw her no
ore. She showed me no animoslty. aud tn
loped that on some future occasion
lght nnd the chance OF bringing up the be
hlect Of the Estmeres once more, and sa
gSing her conscl,nce, II she had ono 10
Z. ! almost decided that would ten pa
+ all knew, all suspected, and try lii
q force the truth from her.
The last few days Mrs. Merton was not Sc
oklng we'll, She gave as a reason want
sleep. This knew was true, az every ",
ght when went TO bed | saw her room oh
mp, never went TO rest until very do
e, and az saw that light wondered
"A woman hatnn uN