Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-01-29
/ tragic happens new days, eh, Captain


to imagine what was really passing in her
sneky old heart, while Mademoiselle
Clochette arranged her foot stool and the
tripod table, on which were placed her
| fan, scent bottles, her knitting, and pet
cur in mother.cf-pearl basket, and then
! withdrew to plunge into her raciess lola.
Indeed, no one who looked on Mrs.
Chillington and saw the suave expression
| on her lineiess old face, her features
delicate and regular, her sweet company
smile and careful costume, with the
graceful cap OF richest lace upon the
coils Of her snow-white hair, could have
deemed what a hard-hearted woman of
the world she was.
"And Lady Braybrooke is well, l
hope?" said Lonsdele, as II IN casual
way.
"Oh yes, thanks, wonderfully so, under
! the circumstances. An, hers was tragic
story, II you choose; poor dear Sir Bris-
CO! You have heard all about his sudden
death, Of course-a sad fate dreadful
shock to US all, dear Captain Lonsdale.
Blu. 1 hope-nay, am certain" she
added, with 8 waggish little smile, "that
nv niece has got over 1t ell now. And
the ruby mines, Captain Lonsdale," she
resumed, after little pause, 81 long SO
much to hear about them. Don't you
wish that you had gone with the troops
to the ruby mines?" q
aThey were scarcely thought Of when
we were before Ava" replied Lonsdale,
coldly, for her manner irritsted him.
"Ah, indeed: Then you have been in
town for some timer"
"A little over fortnight since landed
st Portsmouth"
"At your cIub?"
eyes"
"Good," thought Mrs. Chillington.
GAS the club his cards show is only few
doors off, a fortnight without making
sny move to see Melanie infers that q
change has come over the spirit CT his
dream"
And t,is thought gave her such intense
satisfaction that her smile became radl-
ant indeed.
81 thought Lady Braybrooke looked
p.le," said he, after an awkward pause
HYou have seen her."
"Only driving along the street few
minutes ago"
"Ah," said Mrs. Chillington, greatly re-
Iieved, "London in summer Is scarcely
the place for rose-coloured compilations
fear. It is becoming q dresdfully over
grown place, and though delightful, who
is it that says, if we take out Of Londor
everyone and everything that is not Eng
lish little will be left behind?"
, "You will, l trust, give Lsdy Bray
, brooke my kindest regsrds-my bes
} Wishes" said Lo1 sdale, oblivious OF he
, remark, and with q break in his voice.
Mrs. Chillington was not slow to remarl
the latter. She made an impatient ges
lure, with small and still very beautiful
hand. and thought it would be as well II
crush out any nonsense" that might ye
be lingering in the memory OF this tire
some lover.
"Your best wishes, as an old friend
s dear Captain Lonsdale-you have hear
z then. | shsll of course" said she, an
!, added in q confidential manner, and wit
: her sweetest smile, "Her peculiar posi-
s ton, her strange story, and her great at
t fractions have made her an object OF dee
q interest to many in her new circle; br
perhaps to none more than her preser
II escort, Lord D'O7ley, who is OF yer
{ romantic nsture."
S "Romanticl" thought Lonsdale, almol
y laughing in the old womsn's face, Will
o thinking her remark TO him WAS IN exc
!, cradle taste-knowing all she did and q
- ehe 30 cruelty ignored-the present an
q the past relations of himself and Melani
lie Certainly, he had never spoken with h
on that subject; thus, perhaps with al b
- aplomb and perfect self possession, 81
Is felt that she was at liberty to talk OF Lol
.lD'Oyley with an ease that WAS cutting
Oh cruel and susvely malicious.
L Irritsted almost beyond good breedil
t, by the style she adopted, and the tenor
ut such hipts as she would have made to /
s. other man, he felt that he had right
saw something in the way Of protestatio
q and she knew and felt it, too, while incli
w ed to ignore any right or interest ne h
l. in Melanie or her movements. Thus
he bee.D, with smile and manner as sua
te as her own:
&c "But ere you aware, Mrs. Chillingto
It's that Lord D'Oyley is man whose snt
gu cedents-"
%, "Oh, know all you would urge, as
ne friend, Captain Lonsdale," said she, w
ed smiling precipitation; "but, believe n
'st his lordship is better than many ott
nd men, and certainly, l believe, not wor
ne Every woman of the world knows WI
your sex is generally"
1t; Lonsdals's face wore On expression
le; dissent and disgust mingled; but he b
q his peace. Could it be possible Il
ais from underhanded Influences such
OF these, Melanie, SO pure, so good q
tie simple, could tolerate man with rel
we tation SO unsavory IS that of D'Oyl
let whose name was by-word from
zen Currsgh to Chowringher. or course
could know nothing about 1t, or II {
Sc, did. there must have come to pass 10,
es. teriously some lamentable deteriorat
lch on her part and IN her views OF mep.
vas Fearing to hear more, and losthi
oVe what he had heard, Lonsdale, site
cen mauvsis quart d'heure, rose to ret
les and his hostess rose too, hint that th
nd, interview was over, SIS she rang the D
ust "To. morrow is the. day Of the great
tanic Fete," said she, bowling and 81
ne, ing; "you will be there, OF course, &
ar tain Lonsdale-all the world will be;
re- good morning."
ten "Good morning"
ce; "Heayen aid me to keep these two IL
Sir apart tor ever." was the old lac
en- PRAYER. She said nothing of Lonsda
the csIi To Melanie when the latter retur
ual from the Row, and took care to dest
his cards; thus. as days had slre
'ap- passed, Melanie began to feel more t
I'LL ever Justly piQued.
all Lonsdsle gladly quilted the Cypress
'ed- atmosphere OF Mrs. Chillington's +
deuce, and found himself once more al
sro- in the sunshine of Piccadilly; but
knew that Melsnie WAS alone with 81
Me- man." and In the face OF society,
locking the while so provokingly bri
she .-,;,0 .,5 bspnu Wps this the re