Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-13
Or, LADY GILMORE'S TEMPTATION,
GALL RIGHTS REsERvED.1
CHAPTER I.-MorHER's HELP
AUTHOR OF

out, as though the gray clouds wept over
the little house with the drawn blinds,
where a widow and her children crouched
together in the first dark hours of the
knowledge of their bitter bereave-
ment.
The blow had fallen so swiftly, so sud
denly, that the mother OF the small
group of mourners felt utterly over
whelmed and struck down. She had
risen on this dull November morning
and looked out on the roadway before
her modest suburban home, and watched
the dead leaves swirlIng in circles as the
wind swept them hither and thither;
and while her eyes followed their airy
flights her thoughts had wandered
vaguely on. Before the leaves fell
again Robert would be with her; Robert,
her husband in India, for his regiment
was expected to return to England early
in the following year.
Mrs. LOTUS sighed thankfully; what a
comfort to have him near her once more,
she was thinking; to look again on his
dear face. How surprised he would be
to see Winny; Winny, the two years old
baby whom she had brought home four
teen months ago, now grown to a lovely
child of three. And Nancv-their hand
some ~Nancy-hoW proud father would be
of her.
Still thinking Of her husband and chill
dren, n with a smile on her comely
face, Mrs. LOTUS presently went down
TO breakfast and found her Oldest daugh-
ter, Nancy, kneeling on the hearthrug,
blowing vigorously through a pair OF bel
lows at q newly-lit fire, whose feeble
flames gave out but little warmth.
"Such a Gre for you to come down to,
mother!" said the young girl, rising to
her feet as Mrs. LOTUS entered, and kiss
ing her mother on both cheeks; ''and
such a horrid morning."
cts very wet, isn't it?'' answered
the gentle mother.
There was a likeness between these
two-a likeness in the pretty, delicate
features, the dark hair and the brown
eyes. But Mrs. LOTUS was pale; a fair,
pleasing paleness, while on Nancy's
round cheeks there was the freshest,
loveliest rose-bloom.
"And the chlldren?'' said Mrs.
LOTUS.
"They were not quite dressed when 1
passed the nursery. Here they come"
AS Nancy LOTUS said this a rap came
TO the room door, and a dusky-skinned
ayah entered carrying MIR. LOTUS
youugest-norn and followed by a shy,
delicate-lOOking girl of ten.
These three-Nancy, Millicent and
Winny-were Mrs. LOTUS three daugh-
tiers, and she had one son, a schoolboy of
twelve. Nancy, the eldest, was in her
nineteenth year; q bright; clever,
charming girl the life of the little house
hold, and the greatest help and comfort
10 her mother.
AS Mrs. LOTUS kissed the children the
postman d IS rap was heard, and Nancy at
once ran into the little narrow hall to
get the letters out of the box.
ga letter from India!'' she cried, as
she returned, waving the letter she held
over her head in triumph.
From You father?'' asked Mrs.
LOTUS, with a glad smile.
"No, not from father-it is Major
~StanhOpe's handwriting, I think, - said
Nancy, and she put the letter into her
mothers hand as she spoke.
81 hope began Mrs. LOTUS a little
~nervously, and then she opened the let
Ter, and as she read the first few ines
GRIP of sudden anguish broke from her
fast-paling lips.
What is it, mother, what is ito
exclaimed Nancy, as she ran to her
mothers side.
"4our fatheT!'' gasped Mrs. Lotus,
as her head fell on her young daughters
breast.
What has happened TO father?''
asked Nancy, but Mrs. LOTUS made no
answer ,>She had grown white, cold and
faint, Ia sank down upon her knees on
the floor, in spite of all Nancy's efforts
10 hold her up.
The ayah put down the child and went
to Nancy s Resistance, and together they
lifted Mrs. LOTUS and carried her 20 a
couch. She was not quite senseless, but
the look of dumb misery in her eyes was
more terrible than if she had tainted.
"Oh! don't mOther-don't look like
that!'' prayed Nancy. kneeling down
beside her and chatting her chill hands.
But still Mrs. Lotus spoke no word;
and Nancy, unable to bear the suspense
any longer, started TO her fest n
picked up the letter that had dropped
from her mother g Aerveless grasp.
tt news it contained was very ter
rible. 1t was written by an old friend
n brother officer of Col. LOTUS; writ
ten TO tell his wife that she was a widow;
his children that they were fatherless.
Major Stanhope wrote in deep grief and
related in saddest words the accident,
while out pig-sticking, which had hap
pened to the colonel and his friend. The
infuristed animal had turned, run be-
tween the legs OF Col. LOTUS horse,
thrown him and when they lifted him up
they found his neck was broken, and af-
ter a few signs Col. LOTUS expired.
Nancy read this dismal story with
painting breath and starting eyes, and
then a cry of grief burst from her lips
also, and the next moment she
had flung her arms round her
mothers neck, and was sobbing wildly
on her bosom.
"Mother! mother! how dreadtuI-how
dreadful" cried the poor girl; and in
stinctively the half benumbed mother
drew her closer.
The two younger c~hildren-the sensi- |
tive, pale-faced little girl of teu-and
Winny, the baby, now, too, began TO
cry. They understood something grew
Gus had occurred without knowing what
It was, and so raised their innocent voices