Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-02-07

| "Not all, u said Rothwell with meaning.
| "Good-bye, then, if you are going now.
/ Don't gamble again, there's good boy"
CHAPTER y
IL was only "Come," four letters on a
slip of pink paper Nineteen spaces that
might have been filed for a shilling, yet
! Valentine only sent the word "Come.n 1t
was quite enough for me. | bundled my
things together, wrote to the eminent con-
veyancer, whose instructions | had been
sadly ncglecting for some days, telling
him was going to commence the long
vacation at once Why should | not do
SOP To qualify for the bar you are only
asked TO spend the last year In the cham
berS and If chose | might take nearly
two years holiday and not do much
harm. And was not Claudine
at Bournemouth, perhaps waiting
for me? Opposition, il opposition might
once have been feared, was overcome,
and spun along in the train thinking
how, when and where ] should dare to
ask Clandlne for the answer | wanted
/ The slowness of the train was disgrace
tul. determined when und time to
think OF anything else EXCEPT beautiful
glrlisb figure, pair of gray eyes and a
classical profile, to concoct letter to the
( Times, or to the board Of trade, or rail-
I way commissioners, or someone and
complain OF the scandalous way in
which the line was worked. Yet,
strange TO say, we were timed to run
forty miles an hour, and, stranger vet,
steamed into Bournemouth punctual to
the moment. | had a foolish hope that
someone would meet me, but It was
hardly likely to be realized, us no one
knew what train | should come by. If
the train seemed slow, what shall say
about the cab? 1t crept along no faster
than an intlrm snail; the wheels seemed
stiff and rheumatical, the body of the
vehicle lead, but 1t did at last deposit me
at the door of the pretty little fir.tree
hidden house taken by Lady Estmere
during her stay at the seaside. |
don't Know what | paid the cabman,
nut he seemed contented; in fact, am
not very clear about anything until found
myself in drawing-room talking to LADY
Estmerei who welcomed me kindly, al
most affoctlonately. Even then, as l was
looking around for Claudlne, could not
help noticing her sweet appearance-and
thought, with Lord Rothwell, that to
couple shame and untruthtulness with her
was profanity. But Claudlnol Where
was Claudine?
valentine and Claudine are out,p said
Lady Estmere. "They did not EXPECT Won
so early, You will find them on the sands
or the pier But you must have cup OF
tea first, and, Mr. Norris, want to say a
few words to YOU"
| blushed to the roots of my hair. She
looked very sad and there was regret in
her last sentence.
ION, Lady Estmerel" exclaimed i'm
pulsively, al could not help it-who
could after seeing Gland Miss Neville.
tried all could to conquer it, but ii
was no use,"
"Poor boy,' she said with faint
smile. 81 know you did Valentine told
mo. He has persuaded me, you know
his way, Philip, that It l. all for the best
People always tell you that, when your
dearest hopes so wrong. But blame no
one, least OF all you, for Claudine is very
lovely.D
''She Is, cried enthusiastically. sab,
Lady Estmere, you will gain another son.
Tor, II you will let me, | will love YOU as
the mother | never knew
Then took her beautiful hand and
kissed 1t. She seemed pleased at my act
VI uouhSe.
$50 be it, she said; al win try and
grow content. But after all, we are set
uins everything without consulting the
principal person. Does Claudine love
yongM
y have no idoa,n said ruefully.
Neither have /; neither has Valentine
hut don't despair, Philip. cali Won
Phllip, now, You see. You are earnest
and true, and, alas for the weakness Of
woman, handsome boy. You should
have no difficulty in winning her heart Il
you have not done so already
replied. Sfs'
les, the young can always hone. Ah,|
here is our tea then you can 30 and ind
thom." '''s ~"
| am afraid drank my tea at the risk
Of scaiding myself--at any rate, / refused
! second cup. Lady Estmere, who
hurried down TO the beach The most