Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-08-04
A STORY OF STEEL.
By GEORGE MANVI11E FEM.
copyrighted 1888 by S. s. Mcclure.
PART II.

father has made his manager and his
trusted friend. In those characters l
viii always be glad to see you here.
What you ask I must repeat, is impossi-
BILE -
She rose from her chair with a calm
dignity that taught him it was no timid
girl he was addressing, but one who
thought and spoke as a quiet, self
assured woman.
'You are too hasty, - he cried, catch
ing her hand. ''Let this be for three
mOnths-siX mOnths-and give me your
promise to let me address you here
again.
''Mr. Gray, ask you as a gentleman
meyer to address me in such way as this
again. 1t is most painful to me to have
to speak as l have spoken, but it was
necessity. Forgive me If 1 have panied
you, and let all this be as if it had never
happened. y
He stood before her as she withdrew
her hand, his heart beating, the great
drops of perspiration standing upon his
forehead, and a terrible struggle evil
IDENTIFY going on within him. Then he
seemed to grow calm at once, and there
was bitterly sarcastic edge to his words
as he said:
cam 1 to take it for granted that there
is a prior engagement? That our tortu-
nate young inventor -
DInah gave him calm look, full of
dignity, which silenced HIM for the
moment, as she crossed the room and
rang the bell.
81 might have known, - he painted
out, and then she heard his teeth grit to-
gether.
ASK Miss Walsh to come down, s"
said Dinah quietly to the servant.
Eyes, ma 'am. y And the door closed.
''There is no need to send for your
cousin, - said Gray bitterly. 81 am not
dangerous, - he added, with sheer
''not to you, not to you, - he muttered,
as he hurried out of the room without
once turning his head; and as soon as he
was outside he walked at tremendous
rate down the hill towards the town.
''NO, not dangerous to you, - he kept
on mutteTing, and twice over he burst
into q curious laugh, which made more
than one passer-by turn his head to gaze
after the wild-eyed man who hurried by.
leone? Has he gomez cried Meta,
entering the room.
eyes, yes, Meta; don't leave me
again. That man frightens me"
''Poor darling old coz, - said Meta
tenderly. ''Then it has been NO to
our Mr.. Gray. -
''No? Oh, Meta! how could you ever
think otherwise?''
81 never did, Di, - whispered the girl,
nesting to her. Ibid YOU think was
such blind little goose as not to see
which way my darling cousin s heart
went?''
''Hush! hush! Don't talk to me,
dear. l want to sit and think. -
Meta kissed her, as she sank back on
a lounge and closed her eyes, and the
tender, silent, wOmanly sympathy, and
the tender pressure of the hand which
held hers, had their effect. The agltated,
heaving bosom gradually grew calm, and
the catching, half-hysterical signs ceased
TO struggle for exit; but the silence in
that room was hardly broken till nearly
Il, when there was a sharp ring at the
gate bell.
''Uncle, and in good time, - cried
Meta, sbringing up. why, Di, what's
the matter?'
cit is not my father, - cried Dinah,
starting up and listening eagerly.
'' Meta, there is something the matter!''
''What nonsense, dear! How foolish
and excited you are tonight. Do pray
be calm!'
At that moment the servant opened the
door
eff you please, ma am, there is a
messenger from the works. He wants
to see master directly | told him mas
ter was out, and he says he must see
you. -
eyes, yes!'' cried Dinah, laying her
hand upon her side Let him come.
Quick! Meta, something has happened
to him, IN sure.
''The foolish Idea!' cried Meta mer-
rily, when the door was again opened
and Dan JOY, with his face streaked with
perspiTatiOn and dirt, his eyes starting.
and a look of horror on his countenance
that was piteous to see, rushed in, caught
Diuah 5 hand, tried to speak, but broke
down into q hOarse sobbing, and ended
by trying to drag her to the door.
CHAPTER NI
GRAY'S TEMPTATION
There had been q serious scene at Dan
joys home, and the boy had been laugh
ing heartily at what took place. till,
growing tired of hearing. his fathers
noisy approximations, he had gone out to
indulge IN game with 3 half dozen
from the works, after
which ne had been for an hour at the !
reading room, and gone to sleep over a
book, where his breathing became so
decided that he was shaken |
up, and went out in a huff to go home !
and go to bed.
Upon getting out in the fresh air,
though, he felt better, and hesitated |
about going home.
'Don t suppose the old man s asleep |
yet, - he said. Wonder whether Mr.. |
Dene s up at the works?'
No sooner did the thought pass through
his head than he started off. TO get half |
way down one of the narrow lanes be-
tween two of the great works when he |
came upon group OF rough-lookfng |
workmen, couple of whom caught him !
Oy the shoulders.
Here, gle us hold, - said one.
~ ain t got nothing. What do you
The key. Where 5 your father?''
ct 'ome.
''Isu { he coming?''
''No; mother won I let him. She
ocked him up.
81 But hash t he sent the key?'
"Key? No, he ain t sent no key.
Then go back and fetch him directly
Tell your mother he must come, but
lon't say anything to her about the
Key.
''AIl right. said the boy, beginning
% trembIe with excitement
''If she won't let him come, get to
linn quietly and ask Aim to send the KEY