Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-25

| by going near sUch people,
Dear Hiss Clifford 81 said Nancy gently, and
she took Miss Clifford withered and unwilling
| hand, 81 would not, you know, willingly act
| against any wish of yours, but-if-if YOU think
boys face. am sure you would not wish me to
refuse to take the child? / must take him-I
| have no other choice
"Then I'll have nothing more to say to any of
youth alter my will
Nancy did not speak, but she cast down her
won't that stop your inquired Miss Gift
NO. Miss Gifford,'' again answered Nancy,
| looking up II must go.''
Upon this Col. Erne laid down his newspaper,
and approached the two ladies.
IF dir. Clifford is i'll, Miss Clifford, !" he
said, .'it is but natural he should wish to see
He chose to forsake his child, and his wife
too, - retorted the ancient lady.
But the approach of death makes great
| difference. :" answered Erne. And it is like
Nancy to CO.,
He had never called her Nancy in Miss Gift
ford's presence before, and she instantly re-
81 call her fool for her palms, she said
very GROSSLY.
when do you wish to go?'' he continued now
addressing Nancy.
ITO day. she answered. s'he-poor fellow
says he may not live many days
IF You will allow me, l will escort you
| there, ''then went on Erne; lit would be too
much for you to go alone with the child
THANK you Godfrey. answered Nancy CRATE
..Hum'' grunted Miss Clifford Indignantly.
and then she turned her back and hobbled out OF
the room.
After she had gone Nancy and Erne soon ar
rangeu all the details of their journey, and an
hour later thev had left the Manor House,
taking with them Master Tommy and his nurse:
They travelled as quickly they could, and said
very little to each other on the way; the boy
ton. Miss Clifford had condescended to bid
them goodbye. and had kissed Tommy, but not
Nancy, to mark her disapproval of her conduct.
Bring the boy back at any rate, - she said to
Erne as parting salutation.
81 shall bring them both back answered
Erne gravely.
''I'm not so sure of that, - rctorted Miss Gift
ford, and these words did not add to Erne's
happiness during the journey.
Nancy noticed how much more restless he was
than usual, and how his lips twitched. But he
said nothing on lhe subject of his own feelings.
but was grave and kindly, as usual, and did
everything he could for the comfort of Nancy
and the boy.
Then when they arrived at Paris, they drove
direct 10 hotel, where they left Master Tommy
address that Hugh ford had given Nancy in
his letter. Erne here descended from the car
riage, and left Nancy pale and trembling A
moment or two later the door of the house was
opened and Erne held short conversation in
too low tone for Nancy to hear whose heart
was now beating almost audibly.
Presently Erne went back to the carriage, and
Nancy noticed that his face was very white.
LET get in beside you for moasent or
two, Nancy he said, and in another instant
81 have something to tell you, Nancy" he
went and he took her hand.
what is it?'' she asked, family.
1T is something We. sad.''
Not said Nancy, with a sort of gasp.
Yes answered Erne gently to the unspoken
question; Mr.. Clifford died suddenly this
norning-he went out for short walk, and
broke a blood-vessel in the Streets
"Oh! Godfrey!' cried Nancy, and she put
her hand over her face, and tears rushed into
her ewes.
II viii tell the driver to take turn or two, -
said Erne, 1.-THE shock must be very great to
you.
Nancy did not speak; she leaned back in the
carriage, and thought of the brief life that h adj
just closed. She thought too of the dark tragedy
that was now ended and of the mother and two
so 8, whose fates had been SO dear.
II saw his servant" continued Erne speak
ing, still IN that kind considerable voice, land
he told me he did not suffer much. but that he
had been getting gradually weaker for more
than year-poor fellow. he is quite young is he
"Yes," answered Nancy with Sob
1T is pity he did not live to zee his child
YES again said poor Nancy, but in her
heart she knew it was better for his child that
he was gone. There was NO danger now, and
the shadow of his fathers hidden sin could
never fall on the boys innocent head.
Il should like to see him, presently said
Nancy, raising herself up.
az thought you would like to see him, - re-
piled Erne, so told the driver to keep in the
neighborhood.
So they returned to the house where Hugh
Clifford had died in his young manhood, and
Nancy STOOD still and silent, looking at the face
now SO calm spd beautiful. Erne went into the
death chamber with her, but in a little while
Nancy asked to be left alone. and as the door
closed after Erne she fell down on her knees by
the side of the dead man.
'ohl God be merciful to him. she prayed;
she suffered so much-Ohl poor, poor Hughi''
Long she knel. there, praying for him in her
simple heartfelt words. She had forgiven him
all his wrongs against her, and only remem-
bered his temptations and his bitter remorse.
,I,a hf of tho 2oyC r,ha tra had
loved her, and of their brief happiness in the
very city where he had passed away, miserable
and alone.
II will bring your boy to see you, Hugh" she
whispered softly before she left him, and she
bent down and kissed the cold brow of the hand
some familiar face.
She took the child to see him the next day. and
the little fellow, with small awe, laid
beautiful wreath on his dead fathers breast, and
thes flowers were afterwards placed with him
in his grave. 1t pleased Nancy to do everything
as though Hugh Clifford had never snned against
her, and Erne silently watching her began to
wonder il her love had survived his absence and
neglect. But it was not SO; and when Erne
asked her if she wished to convey his body to
Wrothsley, she answered with sudden agita-
ton.
''No, no certainly not-let him sleep here
Not among his kindred in the family vault of
the chapel attached to the great mansion his
grandfather had built; not by the mother whose
heart he had broken, nor by the mother whose
life he had destroyed. Let him sleep far away
dered, and thought the dead brothers would not
rest in peace if laid side by side.
So they buried him in the city where he died,
and his wife and child followed him to his grave,
and laid flowers there, and paid him all outward
semblence of respect and affection. No one but
Nancy knew the dark secret that was buried
with him; though one of those who stood round
his grave suspected it. for somehow Erne had
always, in his own mind, connected Hugh Gif-
ford with his brothers tragic death.
He had left a will, and Nancy suddenly found
herself q rich woman. He had bequeathed i've
Thousand year to her for life, and the control
of the whole of his large income until his son
became of age His mothers death had brought
a great accession to his fortune, and he had
died wealthy though q most miserable man.
Nancy and her boy remained about . week in
Paris after he was buried, and then the young
widow and her son returned to England, and
Nancy went, by Miss Gifford's especial request
straight back to Gateford, only stopping few
hours in town to see her mother.
Miss Clifford. indeed, felt not little ashamed
of herself when she heard of Hugh Gifford's sud-
den and melancholy death. To do her justice
that he should die when his wife and child were
actually on their way to DID him goodbye,
affected the old lady very strangely.
but it's good thing at last she decided;
and yet she received Nancy with an unwonted
moisture in her eyes, and made no allusion at all
to the melancholy cause of her hurried journey
nor her own bad temper about il.
Master Tommy had brought her q present
from Paris a wonderfully beautiful white EN-
broidered shawl, and the old lady accepted the
peace offering very graciously. She also re-
oeived Erne very graciously.
Thank you for bringing them both safely
hail he ali