Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-14

to shrug his shoulders contemptuously when he
BE- friends. and Hugh Gifsosd eaTsfuliv avoided Old
any chance meeting, and Lord Gilmore m2de
this the excuse for rarely appearing at Wroths.
ley the life there being in reality too quiet and
Father Hayward had made one or two earnest
efforts 10 lead him back into the straight psth
nus the graeSlsss young lord had only laughed
81 am 3 bit OF a black sheep, You know he
said smilingly, but shall be always ready to
that kind OF thing, and that's what you priests
| think of most, ehf''
''You are mistaken, Lord Gilmore; what an
most anxious for is that you should worthily
| good priest.
The young man before him shrugged his shoul-
| ders and gave careless laugh; and one OF the
| reasons that the new Lord Gilmore disliked 60
ing TO Wrothsley for, was that he was sure to
encounter Father Hayward there.
al hate being lectured, - he told Nancy, and
| SO he went on living the life that pleased him
| best, and they rarely saw him at the castle.
But he wrote Nancy very kind letter when
| he heard Q. the baby's birth, and sent down a
| splendid silver goblet as = christening present
| TO little Tommy on the occasion of Nancy s
| child being named plain Thomas Clifford, - by
| the express wish of his godmo her, Miss Clifford.
| As this ancient dame had foreseeu, Hugh
Clifford made no objection to his little son being
named after his great great-grandfather, as soon
as he heard that Miss Clifford proposed to make
| the boy her heir. Miss Clifford was known to be
| extremely rich. and her wishes were estimated
| accordingly. She also, soon after the christ0u-
| ing, reminded Hugh Clifford of his promise to
take a house for Nancy, and placed the check to
'fDon't grudge expense; she said, ''if that
is not enough, there is mora where it csme from.
want you TO have a nice house of your own,
| and mean to come up and stay with you some
| times, intend TO keep my { e on the boy"
Thus it happened that in the early days OF
March Nancy and her little son went up to town,
and fonnd new home awaiting for them there.
Hugh Clifford had taken small but good house
looking on the park for his wife, and Miss e f.
ford s generosity had suificed to furnish it very
prettily. Nancy was greatly pleased with it,
and new look of content and peace had stolen
over her face. for her love seemed to make up for
all. She was stronger too now. and was nearly
as handsome as she had ever been.
she's sweeter looking to my mind even than
before her accident, Miss Clifford SAID one day
to Lady Gilmore. AYE, its well for women to
have children. they make up for much to them
Nancy saw her old friend Godfrey Erne be-
fore she left Wrothsley. and was struck with
the change in his appearance. He was looking
i'll and worn, and his hair had grown slightly
grey at the temples.
81 am glad to see you,'' said Nancy, with
some agitation, as she put her hand in his, for
she was remembering the moment of deadly
peril they had passed together, aud how she
surely owed her life to Erne. II have never
seen you to thank you-for what you did-and
oh! it was so TERRIBLE
1T was terrible to me. - answered Erne in
low tone, casting down his eyes.
az am always afraid to think OF it, said
Nancy nervously.
''Do not think of it them" said Erne with an
effort and forced smile; $50 1 hear you are
going to live in town.
''Yes, Mr.. Clifford has taken a house there,
and your old friend, Miss Clifford, has most
kindly furnished it for u.s. and hope you viii
come and see US. Major Erne, when you are up
IN town.
81 shall be very pleased to do 500
And you've not seen baby?'' said Nancy
with pretty blush, rising and ringing the
bell for the child; and when he was brought in
she took him in her arms and carried him up to
Erne to be admired.
''Hes fine little fellow" said Erne, with
out enthusiasm; and he just touched one of the
pink, tiny, doubled fists with his hand. and
then tnrned away his head; and Nancy could
not understand why he aid not wish to kiss her
babe.
In fact, she perceived that Master Tommy
seemed to have depressing effect on Erne, and
SO feeling little hurt and not little aston
ished she gave him back to his nurse and began
to talk of Miss Clifford.
'She is baby's godnother, you know" she
informed him. as though the news would be OF
great interest to her visitor; land she insisted
on him being called after her brother who was
Sir Thomas Clifford before he became Lord Gil
more; but must have a pretty pet name for
baby; Tom is so ugly, and Tommy worse, don't
you think?'
Erne gave rather grim laugh.
There is not much to choose between them
certainly but Thomas is respectable, rich;
godmothers had called me Thomas"
Godfrey is ush prettier,'' said Nancy,
smiling; yes. must have pretty pet name
''She thinks of nothing but the boy, - thought
Erne, little bitterly: and shortly afterwards he
sad and weary as he rode down the long avenue
at Wrothsley.
But the grandest and happiest day for Nancy
was alter she arrived at her new house in town,
when she carrie baby for the first time to see
her mother. When the time OF her trial had
drawn near, Nancy had most earnestly desired
to have her mother with her; but Hugh
Clifford never proposed this, Nancy, remember
ing what he had said regarding her own family,
heart, and Mrs. Lotus had endured the most
painful nAiety on her account until she heard
of her safety.
Now the mother and daughter met with Joy
that was too deep for words. And the boyl
''lsn't he iovely?' SAID Nancy. navely. I'M
covering the little face which sh, thought the |
enraptured eyes. And we may be sure the |
gr2nddanle d ID not disappoint her Erne had |
done: Mrs: LOTUS was, in Iced. nearly as much |
delighted with it as Nancy herself, and then the |
baby aunt was brought down to kiss her new
nephew, and altogether this meeting was very |
happy one; Aunt Fannie, happily. having spent |
the winter abroad, and thus not being present to
mar it.
But now shall we leave Nancy for while to |
her simple baby worship and take 9 glimpse OF |
another life-the life of 8 woman, too-who (on |
the same air spring morning that Nancy first |
took her boy to see her mother) was standinsin
garden at Maidenhead. looking with lanEuii |
interest at the green buds appearing on the dark
boughs, and listening vaguely to the love songs
of the birds.
pretty woman this, young and fair, with a
certain rustic beauty about her appearance that
suited we'll her present Surroundings. She bore
the name, too, of Mrs. May. and lived in the
pict uresque, roomy, old-fashioned, red brick
house, Der whose moss grown walks she was
now pensively standing.
Presently she heare footstep behind her,
and she turned round with smile and quick
blush.
81 am so glad you have come out Gerald"
she said, sit is SO lonely here"
And you are seutlmentalizing as usual, |
Madame Mayo answered Gerard, with good
natured little laugh.
He YVES smoking cigarette, and his head was
and he was rather careieSsly dressed. |
But there was no mistaking the handsome face, !
the smiling hazel eyes, ana the unfortunate de- |
feet in his form. Yes, this was Gerard, Lord |
and the fair woman he called Madame |
MSy, and who now put her fondly through
his was no other than the pretty girl he had
loved on the wild sea coast, and who for his
sake had secretly quilted her fathers house.
and we'll nigh broken the old mans heart.
70 do the young man justice. however, he
kept his word to May, and married her on the
very day that she fed to him. Married her in
secret and made her swear to keep the secret
until he chose to reveal it. She was thus called
Mrs. May in the house ut Msidenhead and was
did not always live there, but he very often did
so, and he used TO invite his friends down the |
river, and they made merry in the old fashioned
garden. beneath the shady trees; and thus in all |
probability arose the Tumors of the new Ior rs |
iissolute life, that from time to time reached |
his brothers. ears
Let US take turn or two, Gerard, on the |
low walk, presently said May TO him; sit is so |
Dretty to the khiuinC N tha |