Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-01-27

worse for having sat up so late and
smoked so many cigars, but disposed 10
be jovial and youthful for all that Cof-
fee was not on the table, and Robert
failed 10 respond TO the tinkling of the
little silver bell Then sounds of awe
and lamentation were heard III the rear,
4 and the doctor impatiently strobe TO the
door and shouted for his domestics
Robert responded, his kinky wool brist-
ling as though electrified and his eyes
fairly starting from their sockets-he was
trembling from head to foot
What 5 the matter, you rascal, and
why do You not answer the bell? an
grily demanded his master.
But it was s'the Johnson Ninnie''
who responded She had doubtless been
going the rounds and was only waiting
for another chance to make dramatic
coup Rushing through the kitchen
she precipitated herself into the breakfast
room.
..oh, Miss Nellie.'' she sobbed,
there s drefful news. The Indians
I burned the stage with everybody in it,
and they We shot Capt. Terry and Mr..
Mclean an all the soldiers with 'em,
| an '--''
Silence, you babbling idiot.' shout
ed DR., Bayard. stop your fool stories
or Il
But it's Gods truth, doctor It's
God 3 truth, protested Winnie, des-
| perately determined to be defrauded of
no part Of her morning sensation.
s'Ask anybody. Ask the sergeant of the
/ guard. Yo' can see the men what
| brought the news yo' self. -
Pardon me, doctor, interrupted
Mr.. Holmes in calm, quiet tones. ''This
has been too much of a shock for Miss
Bayard, / fear, and already he was by
her side holding n glass of water to her
pallid lips. The doctor pointed TO the
door.
Leave the room: you pestilence in
| petticoats - he ordered. ''Go!' and
having accomplished her desire to create
a sensation, though baked of the full
| fruition of the promised enjoyment, VIM
| ME flew to Bedlam, whore she only
! prayed that Celestine might not be before
her with the news Meantime DR.. Bay
ard had turned to his daughter. His
| first impulse was to reprove her for her
ready credence of the story set atioat by
! SO notorious gabbler as the Johnson g
"second girl. Che glape5 at r.iinor's
! pale features and dropping mien changed
his position in n trice AnxiouslS he
stepped to her side, and his practiced
| hand was ut her pulse before word of
question was uttered. Then he gently
raised her head.
| Look up, daughter Why, my little
/ girl, this viii never do 1 don't believe
n word of this absurd story-and you
! must not let yourself De alarmed by such
| fanciful pictures. Come, dearl Mr..
! Holmes viii excuse You this morning.
! Let me get you TO your room. VIII you
/ kindly touch that bell Holmes, and send
! Chloe to us? III rejoin you in moment.
! Come, Nell!'2
| And half leading, half carrying, he
/ guided her from the room and up the
| stairs, while Holmes, with grave and
| thoughtful face, stood gazing after them.
1t was some time before the doctor re-
appeared, even after Chloe joined him III
the chamber of her young mistress. When
he did the breakfast was cold, and both
men were too anxious to get the true
story to care whether they breakfasted or
not Each took q swallow of coffee, then
fastened forth.
THAT poor little girl of mine,'' said
DR.. Bayard She has q very nervous
sensitive organization, and such shock
as that fool of wench gave her this
morning is apt to upset her completely
Now she has no special interest IL any of
Terry s party, and yet you might suppose
her own kith and kin had been scalped
and tortured.
But Holmes would not reply.
Meantime Winnie had reached Bedlam,
where, to her disgust ,HCelestine had al
ready preached the tidings to the break
fast table, and Mrs. Forrest had been
borne half fainting to her room. Pale
but calm and collected, Miss For
rest returned and began question
ing the girl as to the sources of
her information, and it was on hearing
this colloquy that Winnie took heart of
grace and impulsively sprang up the steps
into the hallway to add her share to the
general sensation. 1t was with feeling
bordering on exultation that she found the
local account to be lacking in several Of
the most startling and dramatic particu-
lars; Celestine had not heard of the mas
sacre of Capt. Terry's command and it
was her own proud privilege to break the
news to Miss Forrest. Here, however,
she overshot the mark; for that young
lady looked determinedly incredulous
dismissed her colored informants as no
longer worthy of consideration, and
taking light wrap from the hat rack in
the hall, tapped at Mr.. Post g door.
''Will you kindly look after Mrs. For
rest a moment in case she should need
anything? / VIII go TO Major Miller's
and investigate these stories. They seem
absurd -
And with that she sped swiftly around
the parade, along the broad walk, and
was quickly at The majors door and ush-
cred into the parlor. There were Dr.
Bayard and Mr. Holmes in earnest talk
with the commanding officer. All three
arose and greeted her with marked cour-
tesy.
81 am sorry that my wife is not here
to welcome you, Miss Forrest, said the
major, f'but with the exception of her
and yourself, the entire feminine ele-
ment of this garrison is stampeded this
morning, the women have frightened
themselves out of their senses. Have
you come for DR.. Ba yard? I hope Mrs.
Forrest has not collapsed as Mrs. Gordon
has. Mrs. Miller has gone to pull her out
of a fit of Mysteries -
Mrs Forrest will need nothing more.
l think than an assurance that there is
little truth in these stories
''Upon my word, Miss Forrest, be-
lieve they are as groundless as-other |
sensational warns that have come to my |