Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-27

! his hsnds-Melsnie and her two brothers
he did no. care much about this new
scheme; but was 10th - offerd Mrs.
C1illiDston CT sppesr Indifferent to her
ambitious views.
"La6y BrsJbrooke-whats mockery :"
was ever Melanie's secret thought. And
now, how to make Montague Lonsdsle
understand more fully the cruel pressure
that had been put upon berthe effect
Of the false rumor of his desth-and that
she had never forgotten and never de-
ceived him.
CHAPTER LXU.-GOSSIP.
"You here, Lonsdale. sitter alp"
"Hslio-Bilke7 Val Bike, OF the
Kings Dragon Gusrds?"
"The same, my beg. Glad to see you
alive and well, old man," was the some
what parsdoxical response, as Lonsdale
found his hand shaken by TIA i!sllant Off :
Ger in the amokipg-room CT the Naval and
Military Club.
Not that L5nsdale had ever much
affected the society Of the blase aGd,
sootn tc say, somewhat blosted and
"beery" looking cavalryman, but his face
was famili.r one and smid the ever
changing society Of the club was one Of
the few he now knew. The gay Val WAS
so bibulous that he always looked, IS his
mess said, "iike fellow halt sprung, or
on half cock"
$50 you escaped those niger fellows
in the land OF the white elephant" said
Billie, proferiDg his handsome silver
cigsr-case. "Try one OF my faVorite
brand"
"Thanks-yes, gave them the slip"
"And have you come home invaded
with sick. That is like the blind leadiag
the bind, IS Byron gays" said BLK,
whose knowledge # literature WAS some-
what hsz7; "but did rot expect You to
tuln no mere, looking So wei and lily,
sitter being killed and buried by Da-
colts"
Jolly? Well, cannot say that quite
feel SO. Fever at RsD g1on nearly.tinished
me-" replied Lonsdsle. l have come
home 70 ind health; though l cannot say
have much TO live for uoW-so many
old friends are gone, sud l care not 10
cultivate new"
"Oh, d-n it, don't begin to moralise,
old man." said Bike, burying his some
what purple nose in beaker Of brandy
snd seltzar. 81 have often thought that
it is wonderful what man can go
hrough-msrching lighting, disease and
drink-get over them all, aud go on living
IS before, egad, and never seem to get
old.n
Lonsdsle, not thinking this remark
merited reply, smoked en- in silence; 50
Val Bike twirled his carefully Waxed and
dyed moustsche and said:
"You remember D'Oyley, of Ours-Bob
D'Oyley. He has succeeded TO his title,
&c IN, <La S1.yh
he won't be much use there, fsIcF."
"What Of nim?' asked Lonsdsie, with
ill-concealed indifference.
ga gay old bird. He is dropping into
4 good thing"
Ellis title, you mean, or the estates?"
"B9tter than either, the estates, per-
hAps, particularly"
'iIn what Way?p
"a charming widoW-one scarcely q
wife, they say; but widows were always
Bob's pet weakness. You remember that
pretty little one wEo WAS st grass in C.l-
establishment Of Us au. Then
Bobs sensible admiration for married
women has always been the saving Of him
what's her-nsme's supposed companion,
WACSC uNSUShO3 al AhAhf
killed in Burmsh, you know" continued
Bike, ending what he meant TO ssy by
putting his nose egaln in his sparkling
Deaker and becoming q little involved IN
der the gaze of Lonsdale, who resented
this public reference to the story Of Mon
| tresser and his wife, poor little Claire.
"You don't mean TO say that the colonel
is dangling after her again-here Ia Lou
DOM" he asked.
! "Not at all, not 81 ell; he Is flying at
higher game. really think he means to
become respectable and settle down
quietly at last. They say It is quite 4
case between him aud the young beauty,
Lady Braybrooke."
"What did you say-who"
"Lady Blsybrooke, by J0vei"
This rel binder efectually silenced Long
dale. WHAT was really meant or inferred,
what had TRANSFERRED within so short s
space, or what WAS now trauepiriDg, he
knew not; but while he silently resented
the mention Of Melanie's name in this
blunt and finland way in such q public
place, and its being cosrscly coupled with
that OF such man as Lord D'Oyley, he
was unable TO show any vital4interest il
the matter or ask any inforMstion about
II. However, amid tbesbanter of g. few
vacant fellows, who wersint1er ched be-
hind their journals on puegss or in essy
chairs, be glesned thnt the Sudden wi4hsw
hood of Meias;s Son hsr s3ed-
ding morning., together with, hs1
beauty audi reputed wesEn
and sudden appearance IN public places,
uader the chaperonage Of MRS. C0illIg,
ton, had made her kind OF nine dsss'
wonder even In LondeS; and that
D'Oyley, ID old frient-Son1e.s aid whilom
admirer-ot her aunt, wss in ssuch close
attendance-"on daily aooty, don'C you
know, aud sll that sort Ct thing"-tb8t il
must eventually Lead RpIs ss m etaMg O!
the kind towardE MesAnie, md <da dne
course mstrimeng. r.iEs - - = $
o. landisg6ss P rfementb, Larsdals
had heard ,esfiy OF the oaronet's suddaq
demise; bat ne had also head cf biz
marriage, az . fact. before i,-sResa
pleasant lact for him to swallow one
which seemed somehow to separate him
rudely and suddenly from Melanie, Fand
made hin fee. as # the new
ties cancelled ell the old be
tween them. AL the more nos
di1 this seem when in this accused club
gossip her name was "muidied no" with
hat Of such sn utter vsurion IS D'Oyley
Of the Kings Oregon Guards. Aud lest
he might hear TAore that was 'q1tlly
Calling, unpleasant and uDpalatable, he
retired and sought the solitude OF his
own rooms.
His return 70 London bad summoned
back keeuly Ell the fond, the sweet snd
tender memories, that were beginning
| eyeo with him IN lose their first acute-