Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-01-24
LIVING OR DEAD.
a PosTHUMoUs PUBLICATION.
BY HUGH CONWAY.
foOpyrIshted lsss.l

70 near me SO elOQucnlS ana Mlbb NeNllle
looked shyly, and as | was pleased to
think, sympathetlcally across the scarlet
geraniums on several occasions. So J
was drawn on 20 tell them nearly all
have eDdeavored to say In these pages
about my early life SAID nothing about
any mystery Of my fathers life or my
utter Ignorance concerning my dead
mother. Naturally, they asked me about
my father, and described him as well as
could, praised him and spoke affection
ately OF hin.
"What a strange boyhood," said Lady
Estnerc, laying her beautiful white hand
for second time on my arm. "You
must be much happier now"
81 wonderyou did not develop into a
poet, Mr. Norris,n said Mis- Neville.
'But perhaps you are onel" she added,
seeing Valentine glance at me meaningly,
and an absurd blush cross my check as
/ caught the glance.
"a poetl OF course he is. Look at
his massive brow,r said Valentine
"Why, my dear Claudiue, he has written
re8ms--tragedy, comedy and all the rest.
Ask him TO bring bagful over and read
20 you. He only wants encouragement TO
give ME the benefit Of them all. But am
firm and never press him."
! felt inclined TO kick him, for all the
world knows that hidden smile turks in
every heart when a man is called poet
But after all, Philip" said Valentine,
coming back to the original subject
"Your father must be queer bird --ex-
cuse slang, mother Claudine, how would
you like 20 live In such a placer No new
bonnets, no fashions, no shops, Claudlne
fancy"
"Substitute hats and coats for bon
nets, and can picture your desolation,"
said Miss Neville, quietly.
The action was couslnly after all
thought with some satisfaction.
"EXactly," said Valentine, al should
die without them. saw glorious sap
phire in Bond street to-day, Claudne. !
asked the man 10 put II aside for a twelve
months. Then, when you come Of age,
you shall give II TO me
Miss Neville laughed, and promised TO
| crafty him. The ladies' then left us, and
| Valentine aud ladiourned TO snuggery
| for one small cigar before joining them.
| ! may as well confess that even at that
early hour had been greatly struck by
/ Claudine Neville. can say so with a
clear conscience, for as yet have not
| brenthed word OF love IN these
pages. Yet ! had met women at various
| times and had been troubled IN my
| heart n little by one or two but my fate
had not come yet, 80 spare you the usual
| boyish rhapsooies, hopes, disappolnt-
menis, disdain and forgetfnlness. Till
\ now hnye never met 80 beautiful Cir
! as Valentines cousin, so | wanted u
know all about her. That was all
GLOW do you like my motherpn asked
/ Valentine, almost anXiously.
81 can only say understand your word,
when you speak Of her. / can say nc
more, except TO thank you for making m,
known to her."
His face beamod with pleasure. al an
so glad,n he said. 81 um sure she like,
you. have never seen her take so Il
anyone"
"You never told me how nice YOU
cousin was.o
"Didn't /. Fellows get SO used to theil
cousins, they don't talk much about
them
"why, bless the man. she is lovely
Can't you see iiYn
"Nes, of course can. We are very
fond OF one another. ! admire her i'm
menselyn
"Yoa don't seem TO know your own
luck. Isuppose it's all settled between
your
u suppose it Isl he answered care
lessly.
"Then have to congratulate you, nut
there's an end of I'll"
ayes, we are TO be married some day
in two years or so, think. Is Your cigal
oute Let us go IN and have some music.'
We joined the ladies'. Valentine ant
Claudme sang together, and as they were
accustomed To such joint performance.
the effect was artistic and pleasing. They
were evidently the best OF friends, bu
with the exception Of the manner in whicl
they entered the drawing-room during my
whole visit had detected no sign OF thai
love which fancied girl of the type OF
Claudiue Neville would expect from th,
| man she chose as her husband Lad,
4 Estmere talked 10 me, aud | noticed
| ,uked with quiet satisfaction upon
her son and his betrothed. Sc
Kind aud natural were they all thai
4 felt quite like one Of their own family
and, vcxed AZ contributing so little TO the
general enjoyment, did MI could "a
make my conversation entertaining. The
evening slipped away very quickly
When hede them good night Lady Est,
mere, In q manner the sincerity of which
was not diminished by its sweet polite.
ne 8, begged me 20 come often aud SCI
Valentine and herself. Claudine made
some merry and unaffected remark, and
! wendell my way back TO Alhemarle
street, thinking had spent the pleasant.
est evening In my life, with the klndesi
aud most attractive people, and that Clau.
| dine Neville was the lovellest girl had
ever seen. Lucky, lucky Valentine.
| did not go To bed for some time after
my return home | sat smoking aud
thinking OF my new friends, WAS making
so many uow---V Valentine, Rothwell, Lady
Estmere, Clandlue Neville, besides others
In lesser degree whose mention my tale
does not require. IL Is pleasant teeling
for yonng fellow with u tendency To
melancholy TO iina that people like HIM.
| | thought Of LADY Estmeie and how near
I " perfection she mnst nave been In her
I younger days, | tried - imagine her
/ regular aud pcnslye features wearing the
] brightness Of youth, aud her hair, thai
wonderful white hair, mass OF gold.
| Yes, SHE mnet have been one OF the lowell.
est girls OF her day. Then thought of Val.
entine, and with Valentine Claudine Ne
VILE came 10 my mind. found myself
try Ing 10 recollect all shc had said during
the evening. to recall the songs she had
sung In her rich cpntralto voice, TO deter.
mine the exact color OF her eyes and hair,
aud TO decide % my own satisfaction
what she had worn. This, OF course, was
entirely for Valentines sake, was
bound To be- interested in his future wife
Rut as | went at last 70 bed, l could mt
help Wishing he had told me what rela-
tons existed between his cousin and him-
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