Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-24

Post on the upper gallery, and people
who bad been saying that Mrs. Post had
nothing 30 do with her at Robinson were
surprised at the growing intimacy be-
tween them now. Robert presented the
note with grave and courtly Virginia
bow, then withdrew to 8 little distance
and respectfully awaited her answer.
| Over at the Gordon s a group of ladies,
old and young, watched the scene with
curious and speculative eyes. Everybody
knew that Miss Forrest had declined to
see DR.. Bayard during her Illness
Everybody had noted that while the en-.
tire feminine element of the garrison
floclled to inquire for Nellie in her in
valided state, nobody went to see Fanny
Forrest. Now what could this strange
girl be doing with letters from g DR..
Chesterfield. Even Mrs. Post watched
her narrowly as she hurriedly read the
lines OF the Doctors elegant missive.
Her eyes seemed TO dilate; her color
| heightened and little frown set itself
darkly on her brow, but she looked up
brightly after moments thought and
spoke kindly and pleasantly to the wait
ing messenger:
There is no-answer, at least not now
Robert Thank the doctor and tell him
am very much better.
And so, pty-handed, he returned TO
his master, who waited eXpectant in his
study. The message was almost an af-
front-such was his pride and selt-esteem
and for nearly an hour he sat there
bordering over the strange char
acteristics of the girl, who, despite
pendence, had so fascinated him. It
nj hi 70 ba ha ha so
repeI him when he knew well that be-
tween her and Mr.. Holmes there had
been an exchange of notes, that Holmes
had seen fit to preserve q mysterious
silence,as to his significant circumstance
and finally, that apparently by appoint
ment. Mr.. Holmes had called a Bedlam
the evening after his arrival and had
enjoyed long and uninterrupted CONVEX
sation with Miss Forrest out on the upper
gallery Now what did this portend? 1t
was Celestine who gave him this very in
teFesting information as he entered the
lower hall and despite his repellaht
mien, that enterpriSiug domestic was
sufficiently a Judge OF character TO
venture on a low and confidential tone OF
voice in addressing him. He had scowled
Indignantly at her and had hidden her
hold her peace as he passed her by, but
Celestine was in no wise dismayed
She knew her man. 1t was on his return
from his visit that he sent his note and
then in the gloom and silence of his
library pond over the palpable rebuff
Over across the hall he could hear the
soft voices of his daughter and her now
intimate friend Jean. They were cooling
and muTmuring together in some girlish
condolences which he was in no mood
to appreciate and with which he
could feel no sympathy whatever. Then
in came Holmes from the sunshine of the
parade and he heard him cheerily enter
the parlOr, and in hearty, cordial tones,
announce that he had just come from
Mr.. Mclean g room, that that young
gentleman was doing finely and would be
able to sid out OH the piazza in a day or
two, and that Mrs. Miller was nursing
him like mother 8 For time the chat
went blithely on-Jeannie Bruce and
Holmes being the principals-and then
came a message which called that young
lasse homewaTd
Presently Bayard heard the manly
voice growing deeper and softer. The
words were indistinguishable but there
was no misjudging the tone, such was
the tremor of tenderness of every sylla-
bic. Faint, far between and monosyl-
able were Nellie's replies, but soon the
father knew she was answering through
her tears. It did not last long.
Holmes came to the hall;
turned and spoke once more
to her-no touch of reproach, no tinge of
pleadIng-but with ring of manly sym
pathy and protecting care in every word.
Bayard could not but hear one
sentence. cit makes me only more
F1aSa frsio crirI h
too And then he strobe forth into the
breeze and sunshine again and no man
who met him knew that he had tempted
his fate and lost. Something told him
days before that Miss Forrest 3 words
were prophetic-Nellie Bayard would
prefer one nearer her own years.
It was to satisfy himself that Randall
Mclean was that enviable somebody that
he had sought this interview, and though
she had admitted nothing and he had not
questioned he had read in her tears and
bushes truth that only recently had she
trembIingly admitted to herself. Now
he saw his way clearly to the end.
But to Bayard the abrupt close of the
murmured interview meant a possibility
that filled him with double dismay.
That one hope should be dashed to earth
this morning was an evil sufficient unto
the gay ID2C 1t SnOnld De followed by
the conviction that his daughter had
utterly declined to consider this wealthy
ana most estimable e. Gentleman as sutton
for her hand was a bitter-bitter disap-
pointmeut; but that she should have
refused Roswell Holmes with all his
advantages because of Randall Mclean
with-what?-was more than he could
bear.
Just as she was hurrying to her room,
still weeping he interDosed.
"My little Nell-my preciousl' he
cried in tenderest tones as he folded her
in his arms. els 1t so hopeless as this?
is it possible that my little daughters
heart has been stolen away-right under
nv eyes-and never saw it?''
For an answer she only chung to him,
hiding her bonny. face, weeping the more
violently. Speak, she could not.
MEL! Nellie!' he pleaded, ''try and
tell me, dear. You don't know what it
means to mel You don't know what
fears your silence causes mel My child
tell me--that it ISM Mr. Mclean -
No answer-only closer nesting; only
added tears