Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-05-30
CHApTER XXIX.


80 ! was within easy riding distance Of
Valentine. The thoughtful Mr. Black
had, as soon as Sir Laurence returned,
sent over horse and man, thinking such
articles might come In useful when III.
ness vas In house. SO In the morning
| mounted and rode away TO look for my
brother
u was perfectly delicious 10 picture his
surprise when | should tell him the
strange news, and, eager TO enjoy II,
prlcked on as fast as ! could, reaching
Miriieid about room.
Valentine and Lord Rothweli's other
guests were out shooting, but, as MS
certained where % were TO meet the
luncheon bnsket, ! SHOULD have no dlfli-
Guilty IN finding them II WAS not very
far away, 50 alter stabling Mr. Blacks
horse I walked across 10 the place.
They we're all there, Valentine, Stanton
aud Vigor, vigorously engaged In satisfy
ing ihe healthy appetite produced by a
mornings sport. No one saw me until |
was "a the Didst 81 the party. Then all
sprang 20 their feet aud bade me vOci-
cruus. hearty, but astonDded welcome.
But it was Valentines hand grasped
the iirst, and held the longest, glad TO
find that my grasp was returned with all
the coidiality Of yoTe. Peria my sud-
den appearance made him forget that our
last parting was not OF the friendliest de-
seriptloa, perhaps he guessed that | had
come 70 explain what seemed so strange
20 him. Anyway, he Welcomed me with
al his native ffanknese Then ! shook
hands With my other friends.
PHILIP Norris Capt, Phillpl" cried
Nigor and Stanton simultaneously, "what
The deuce brings you heTel'
''fhilip,n continued Stanton, "vOu can
give ua some tidlngs Of our noble host. II
he has gone 10 Patagonia or Africa be
has perhaps left word how long VIC are to
run ihls establishment nt his, aud who *
10 take the command. shan't; know
nothing about conducting household -
"We'lllook after IL OF aud on TIL the
shooting Is oyer, said Yigor, then leave
II % ils fate"
Haven't you heard Of him?r asked.
Mot lluei not telegram. He went
on In a hurry, Said he must 90 20 town
impossible 10 ray how long he should b.
away. We must all stop aud do just as
we liked; the limited resources OF the Cs-
tablishmpnt wera placed at our entire
disposal He hadn't time TO shake bands
with as, although believe he wanted to
Kiss Valentine, or bless hin, or some.
thlag What peculiar charms he sees IN
a follow who can't shoot straight don't
know"
"What nonsonsern cried Valentine. /
"Bul whore IS he, Phiiipg Did he come
back Win your
''Noi hpt saw him in town few days
ago.
dAll right, was he9"
"QuItci sent me down TO look after
YOU
80 long as there's nothing the matter
with him We are content. | went down
Into the cellar yesterday. There's enough
Pommery left To last Us until next season.
We shalt manage all right. Now sit down,
Phllip and have some food"
Although was burning TO tell valen-
ilae the news, | thought It better 10 de-
Ter i until after lunch. sat down aud |
joined the merry party, The laughter !
ana lkes did me good---lt seemed years |
since had INDUCED In any merriment
Nli took It Tor granted that | had come /
down for shooting purposes, and Stanton |
reioiUei that nOw they would he able 10 (
have decent rubber Of an evening
Valentine inquired after Claudine, and
seemed surprised 20 hear had not seen
her FOR SO long.
Luuoh was Overi cigars were III, aud
The mon iounged about preparatory to re.
suming their sport.
"No~," said Vlgor, who being town
bred was by far the most enthusiastic
sportsman OF the party, "tlme's up; let
Us 90 TO work again.
where's your gun, PhlipFn asked
Stanton,
~ didn't come out to shoot. came
10 see Valentine.n
well, you've seen him. He's more
beautiful than ever, All the farmers
wives and daughters hang about trying
70 catch a glimpse OF him. shot the
Inainer out OF young woman's hat the
other morning She was peeplng at him
through the trees, mlstook her head
Tor pheasant
"Considoring the date, such a comics. /
sion speaks well for your conscientious
observance OF the game laws" said Val.
sntine,
told him wanted TO see him on
BUSINESS, and asked him TO walk b OK To
he house with me. He readily consent.
sd, aud we went away arm In arm, leay.
ny our friends complaining OF our de.
Iertion.
Valentine was IN the highest spirits,
lie Laughed and jestedi poured ont
lood OF questions as TO where | had been,
What had been doing He maryeled at
rearing had stayed 80 long 10 duh
llace like Surbury. lie shook his head
rarningiy when he found | had recently
eturncd from Monaco
= hate to hear of your gambling, Phil.
y, he said.
oBut 40, 600 irancsn
~ don'tcare You are too good a Eel.
ow 10 gamblen
Valentine always grew serious ON this
'osnt, No doubt the thought of my OK.
'loits reminded him % my obicetionahio
onncosIon with his foe.
~ hope Gresham did not accompany
Iougr he said
mo, went with Rothwell.n
Went with Rothwolll What took
s0thwell theroy"
"a within, ! suppose We heard Of
'hesham at the tables
'oi course you did, hope he was
uiand."
He was, literally A day or two after.
wards they found him lying hy the sea.
hot through the heart
Chesban Dead Dead without
pcAking- without retractlng his llese''
Yes, bis end was q fitting one.r
NAnd you say that, yet called yourself (,
rs fgiend.n
He spoke with tunch Of sarcasm In
Ms ysice.
:" ! neler called myself his friend. was
nnch With him At one time, Tor certain
eAsonsreason you ought TO guess
Inc Of the things l came hero Tor h dav /
! TO make everything clear TO you and .
ecsire Your love and friendship again, (" /