Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-01-24

vile, cousin scarcely conveys the pro-
per idea Of the standing between you and
Valentine"
For the life of me, although tried TO
speak calmly, even banteringly, ] could
not help ring OF bitterness and sadness
In my voice. Claudine's lashes fell, a
blush rose upon her cheek, she looked at
her programme, and appeared as II she
had not heard my remark.
"Hush!" she whispered, tive must lis
ten. The trio is Just beglnning.n
| AS she spoke, the opening bars sounded
and the tenor, tall thin man with black
| eyes and small mustache, the baritone,
a short, stout man, with black eyes and a
! large mustache, and the contralto, a very
stout lady with blacker eyes and notice
able mustachc, plunged into al Naei-
1 ganti."
Many star brought from Italian skies,
oil greater or lesser magnitude, shone that
afternoon; but ! noticed the music but
I little, or only held II as an accessory to
the dream was dreaming as glanced at
/ the perfect profile OF the beautiful young
( face by my side. The sense Of hearing
could give me nothing to compare 10 the
/ delight OF looking at the little ear and the
! bit of white neck that cleaned between
/ the collar and the bright brown hair
above. No woman, was certain, In that
! vast assembly could compare with Claud-
/ Inc; no figure was so enhancing and
divine, no hand so small and we'll
Z shaped, and no one dressed with such
taste aud refinement; and she and all her
glories were Estmere's; and In Il couple
Of hours time | should be cursing my
! folly and my treachery TO my friend In
even dreaming such hopeless dream
about her OIL II had but seen her before
she was betrothed 70 Valentnel or even
II Valentine had not been my friend
! Did Claudine listen to the music any
more than ! did. I cannot tell. We
talked volubly about it on our way back,
but somehow were not quite clear as to
| the names of many Of the singers, or
even the songs they condescended to
\ sing. Claudna was on active young
woman who much preferred to walk after
concert.
81 always get a headache after such n
stupendous performance as that unless /
walk" she said. "lt's long way, |
know, to st. Johns Wood, but If you
don't mind, | would rather walk. won
der where Valentine is 2"
Valentine put in no appearance, so we
waited a very few minutes for him, and
started side by side on our way home.
We were not the most laxative of COM
panions. could not trust myself to say
more than everyday commonplaces, and
Claudine helped me very little. When we
reached the quieter thoroughfarcs Of St.
Johns Wood, and nearer the place of
/ parting, our tongues grew a little looser
"Why have we not seen you for so
many days?' asked Clahdine
! ,ut opt,,nthf,,, ,bo borl
\ work. She looked increduous. "Valen-
tine says YOU are not we'll Is that true?"
/ al suppose am only signing for sea
/ breeze---that Is what is wrong with me-
| have promised Valentine to go to
Bournemouth with them next week"
$50 he told us. Aunt was very glad to
hear IL. She has taken n great fancy TO
I you, Mr.. Norris; you ought to feel fiat
tered
81 do,' said. "She is one Of the
sweetest women ever metz
''She is, indeed Mr.. Norrs-the sweet.
est, | think. She has had great trouble
in her time; you can guess that by her
look and her voice There is great deal
OF character In a voice. is there not?"
assented, and said something more in
praise of Lady E~tmere.
"She mas 80 few friends" continued
Claudlne, 'that am so happy in seeing
her make new one, and, | trust, true
one. For You viii be true friend to her,
will you not, Mr.. Norris, through good
and evil repNrtI"
evil report is scarcely liable to trou.
bic Lady Estuere,n answered, wonder.
Ing Mt her earnest manner.
"Perhaps not, she said. "But here we
are at the house. You will come In and
have a cup Of tea with her?"
"No, thank you,n | said decidedly;
'not this evening"
She did not press me, and knew she
guessed the reason OF my apparent dis.
courtesy.
AS we reached the gate said, az must
take this chance of saying goodbye. Miss
Neville. | am afraid shall not Sc you
again before you so. 1t may be years
before we meet again. You viii think OF
me sometimes
hated myself for the accent with which
spoke the last few words, but | could
not help IL. was parting with Claudine.
"What part of the world are YOU going
into after your visit 20 your friends In
Shropshire?" ! asked, feeling | should
like to be able to think of her IN some
particular spot.
~ ann not going TO SHROPSHIRE she
said very quietly. zone OF my friends is
III; ] only heard It last night; so all my
plans are changed
"Where do you 30 on Saturday when
\ you leaveYr asked
81 am not going ON Saturday. Aunt
has persuaded me 10 stay with her at the
seaside, so, Mr., Norris, If you come Ia
Bpurnemouth we shall soon see each
| other again.
was thunderstruck. The hand of Fate
4 was memorable. My pulses were beating
wildly; | scarcely knew what said. |
was wrecked in sight of land, but |
struck out wildly for the sake Of safety
and honor.
al cannot GOMEZ will not come - /
cried. "It Is too much, too crueli"
1 Claudine's eyes fell. She did not ask
me for an explanation of my strange re-
marks
"Then | suppose II must be goodbye
she said very softly, and holding out her
! hand.
Eyes, good bye" Q, claimed; "good.
J bye lou know why caanot come TO
Bouruemouth, Claudine. | am Valen-
tines friend, aud hope gentleman and
man OF honor. Claudlnc, II | spent au-
Z other day In your company should for.
get friendship, honor-all save Your love,
I Forgive me, and 2ood-hyem
/ wished no answer, waited for none
/ ! grasped her hand for second, then
( dropped II and strobe as fast as | could
along the DUST road, never turning my
head until their house was hidden from
sight. Aud 'ulore unhappy man than
I Pnilip Norris never cursed his fate. After