Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-09-01


hand he could have touched her on the
shoulder at any moment during the con-
versation that ensued. The man joined
her in an instant, but so dense was the
darkness under the trees that his face was
merely a featureless blur of somewhat
lighter tone, and no human eyes could
make out his identity.
'Why have you come?'' she said 81
told you not to. -
81 know" be answered. "Do you
think 1 would submit to be flung off like
that. 1 have tried to see you since
since that day, but you have avoided
me. Now 1 VIII speak to you.
"Make haste, then. Say what you
have to say and CO." she said with
feverish energy. eff my father should
see you
.''Why should he not know" inter
rupted the man.
"All?'' asked the girl in a voice of
concentrated horror.
'All. Why not?"
FWhy notl'' walled the girl, as if ap-
pealing TO some unseen spectators. 'He
can ask that! My God. -
'What do you mean, Gertrude?" said
the man harshly, making some indefinite
forward movement.
All. 40 NOT TOUGH ul0, Sn6
stepping back hastily almost into Mr..
Padger's' arms, until he feared that
every instant she would hear the labor
ing breath which IN lis excitement he
was pOwerless to control.
"Have you gone mad?' exclaimed the
man, but he drew back as he spoke, and
she followed a few steps, crying s
"Mad! I have enough to make me. =
wish to heaven L was, that 1 might foT2
get. - -
''Do you then repent what you hava
done?''
"Repent! - she said in voice
of indescribable anguish, ''Do not you?'
''Look here, Gertrude, - he said
sternly, "I'm hanged if 1 understand
this. What is done, is done, and should
bind us together not thrust us asunder -
"You can say that - she said. "Do
you think could forget?''
''Heaven help me if l understand you,
Gertrude, - he said desparingly. Gin
past days when your stepmother-''
"Ah!" she interposed fiercely, in a
shrill, dry tone, ''do not mention her
name. -
"Why not?'' he said in deep, almost
menacing tone. elf [ can bear to speak
it, surely you can learn to endure it -
81 will not have it spoken between
us, - she cried again, "YOu have had
my letter-go. "
F'I have had your letter. That is why
1 am here. You say we must never meet
again. l wish to know why. l am will
ing to put the past behind me, and keep
silence, to try and forget. What more
can you ask of me than that?'
p ''I ask you to leave me. Now and
forever. -
"But, Gertrude-''
riedIy-'' that 1 could live with that
weighing upon me, day by day, and
night by night? No, if you can forget
so easily, so much the better for you. I
can not. -
'What am I to make of this, Ger
trude?"
''What are you to make of it?'' she
walled again. 'What have you made
of it?'
'.I?''
''Fool!" she exclaimed with wild in
tensity, "dO you think 1 do not under
stand? l like you can keep silence, but
[ can bear no more. l know there is
tie between us that nothing but death,
perhaps not even that can break, but in
this life let us never meet again -
AS she concluded a figure appeared on
the Threshold of the front door at some
distance off, and after an inquiring
glance round the garden. Mr.. Ennis was
heard calling to his daughter.
But Gertrude-'' said the man at the
same moment.
FHush!' she whispered hurriedly.
'There is my father looking for me.
Go. -
'Will you not see me again?"
ono. What is the use? l will think
and let you know. Now go, and quick
ly.'
The man disappeared silently into the
darkness Mr.. Padger would have given
year S income to be able to follow him
and find out who had been the second in
terlocutor in this strange dialogue, but
unfortunately Miss Ennis remained silent
and motionless for some minutes after
the strangers departure, and he scarce
~ dared to breathe. AT length she drew
long shudderng breath, neither sigh,
nor sob, and turned and moved slowly
away in the direction Of her father. The
next moment MIR. Padger was making
the dust of the avenue fly beneath his
feet. But he was too late. The man
was gone.
To be Continued Ne1t Week