Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14

al am very glad. Some day hope
| you will let me know him."
"He would think that great honor
He said Maj. Erns seemed very kind
gentleman"
eyes, said Nancy softly; ''I have
! known him long tipe-hs has always
| been very good to me"
But their conversation was here inter-
rupted by loud rapping at the door.
81 have no doubt that is the child
rem, d." said May, going to the door;
"they have been waiting most anxiously
! to see you. You are a great favorite Of
| theirs.
1t was Dossy and Flossy, who rushed
in and kissed Nancy and Master Tommy
rapturously, who again resented the
| liberties he was being subjected to.
"Let me nurse him, - said Dossy; but
Tommy firmly refused to leave his
mothers arms.
awe are so glad you have come
| Nancy" went on Dossy.
hOh! so glad - echoed Flossy.
Then they began TO prattle on about
the new baby, and Miss Pennythorne ,
and Miss Clifford ;asking when they might
go again to Gateford, but strange to tell
they never mentioned their poor mother.
here in such different circumstances to
those in which she had first entered this
house as governess to these little girls.
And the present Lady Gilmore was such
a contrast to the last! Still, the visit
passed off more pleasantly than she had
hoped it would, and when she rose to go
May asked her almost humbly to come
again.
al am very glad to know you, - said
Nancy, and she kissed May soft pink
cheek as she spoke, whose blue eyes in
stantly filled with tears.
'I--know am not-like you, - she
faltered; "but-for poor Gerard S sake
will you come sometimes, for he was
always so fond of you. -
Thus the sisters-in-law parted, and
Nancy returned TO Gateford greatly
pleased with poor May; but Miss Clifford
could not get over Master Tommy 8 loss.
''Just to think OF poor delicate puny
brat like that stepping into Tommy
place, - she said Grossly; "snd I've no
doubt he's got humpback into the bar
gain.
al don't think so, :" answered Nancy.
''If il had only been girl, 1t wouldn t
have mattered-but thank goodness 1t
may die -
"Oh! no no, Miss Clifford, do not say
that!' cried Nancy with such sudden
emotion in her voice and manner that
the old lady looked at her in surprise.
'Whatever is the matter with you,
child?' che SAID. Its natural, isn't
1t, that 1 SHOULD wish Tommy to be the
head of the house when he is called after
my brother, who was the first Lord Gill
more? Tommy will be rich man
whether he is Lord Gilmore or not, but
still that does not make up.''
Nancy made no reply to this, but that
night as she knelt by her baby cot, she
prayed that the frail little child at
Wrothsley might live. And she went
again and again to see the young mother
whose sweet simple nature had won her
own generous and kindly heart. And
one day, while she was at Wrothsley, she
and May encountered in the grounds q
grave, almost solemn-faced man, whom
May stopped.
"This is my father" she said, put
ting her hand affectionately on John
Summers arm.
Nancy at once held out her hand and
took the rough, toil-Worn one in her
own.
Glow are you, MIR. Sumners?' she
L
just been to see your little grandson, and
have been telling his mother here how
much stronger he looks
81 thank ye kindly lady for being SO
good to May" answered honest John
Summers. Gas for the babe, think
he's thriving now
"Father IS so fond of him - said May,
land DaDy g SO fond of father; he cries
to go to him. -
John Summers looked gratifed, and
then presently inquired after Maj. Erne.
"May tells me ye know him we'll; will
ye kindly gil him my respects when ye
see him, for he kindly noble gentle
man.
al will tell him. - said Nancy with a
smile and little blush; and she did tell
him that very day, for when she returned
to Gateford she found Maj. Erne sitting
with the old lady.
81 have a compliment to tell you,''
said Nancy smilingly, as she shook
hands with the grave-faced soldier.
"well, what is it2" answered Erne
with his grey eyes fixed upon her face.
Then she told him what John Sum-
ners had said, and a dusky blush stole
over Erne s brown face as he listened.
That's a grand compliment, in
deed!' he said with smile. al shall
have to try to live up to It,.
Miss Clifford, upon this, twice nodded
her ancient head.
"It strikes me that you do" she re-
marked.
"Tou always have a kind word for
me, Miss Clifford, - said Erne, looking at
her.
"I'vs pretty clear sight, though I'm
not so young as 1 was, - she said, again
noddlng her head. "Well, Nancy, how's
the child ct Wrothsley today"
sob, he looks so much stronger. -
81 declare you just say that to ag-
gravate me! But be quick, now, and
dress for dinner, for it's just about the
time''
Erne renamed for dinner that day at
Gateford, for whenever he arrived, Miss
Clifford used to insist on him staying,
though she herself usually dined in the
middle of the day; and after the meal
was over, the old lady having fallen into
q gentle doze, Erne and Nancy stood to-
getheT IN one of the old-fashioned, deep
niched windows, looking out almost in
silence on the still garden beyond, over
which the yellow September moon was
SHINING down.
Presently Erne sighed restlessly.
"WhRt is the matter?' asked Nancy
-1fo,r Inc oN 10 fnn A