Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-17


| ton from Mr.. Bayford, and he affected
not to observe it, and in a few kindly
! and considerable words endeayOred to ex-
plain to the agitated girl what he be-
lieved IL future would be the amount oil
their income.
1t was very, very little. Mrs. Lotus
had only brought few hundreds to her
husband, for her father-a soldier also
could afford no larger portion TO his
pretty daughter when she welded the
husband of her choice. This modest
sum, however, renamed intact, and
Col. LOTUS had contrived to save about
one thousand pounds. Altogether there
was nearly fifteen hundred pounds avail
able for the poor widow and her father
less children. This, with her pension,
would be all Mrs. LOTUS had to live on,
Mr.. Bayford stated, and when he named
| the yearly amount that she could expect
to receive Nancy knew that it would be
absolutely necessary for her to endeavor
to assist her mother.
SIT is very small sum, of course, -
said MIR. Bayford kindly, 'but still, in
cottage in the country, and with econ
omy, daresey your mother will be able
to make it do. And perhaps by an by
you will be able to help her. Have you
any particular talent or accomplish
ment?''
Nancy sorrowfullv shook her head.
81 am afraid not - she answered;
and then after a moments silence and
with sudden blush she mentioned Lady
BlenkInsop's suggestion, that she should
try TO find some situation.
"A very sensible and praiseworthy
idea promptly replied Mr.. Bayford;
land it is very well indeed that you have
such an influential friend as Lady Blen-
kensop ready to help you. If you could
procure a situation as governess, shall
we say, in some good family, with sixty
or seventy pounds a year salary, you
could spare half Of it to assist your
mother to bring up her younger chill
dren?'
''Oh. yes, ves!' said Nancy; but
there was an odd, choking sensation in
her throat which prevented her from
speaking many words. 1t was all so new
and strange to her, the thought of going
out into the world amongst strangers,
and TO listen to its being thus discussed
so calmly and indifferently naturally
affected her. She had been her fathers
pride and darling, and had been nearly
eighteen when her mother, the younger
children and herself had left India four
teen months ago. Her father then COM
manded his regiment, and Nancy had
been an admired, fiattered young girl,
holding a good position in society, for
Col. Lotus was very popular man, and
Nancy certainly had run a risk of being
spoiIt by the amount of attention she
constantly received.
She had had her little romance, too,
we may be sure, and while Mr.. Bayford
was talking of her future salary as a gov
to early morning rides; to whispered
ballroom protestations; to a handsome
face that Nancy remembered SO well.
But these romantic reflections were
speedily interrupted.
81 shall be pleased, - continued Mr..
Bayford, rising and holding out his hand,
''to hear you have obtI med good Sit
uation, and if at any time can be of use
to your mother or yourself, please let me
know. -
Nancy now saw that she was expected
to go, and she went; went back sadly
and slowly to the little house that such q
brief time ago had been made lively with
glrllsh voices and laughter, but which
was now as dull and gloomy as the
leaden November skies above 1t. Mrs
Lotus, Ill, weak and depressed, was
confined to bed; Milly, the second girl,
who was always delicate and sensitive,
had visibly dropped and plned in the
sorrowful atmosphere by which she had
lately been surrounded, and even the
baby looked i'll.
There was no one therefore to receive
poor Nancy with sympathetic smile of
welcome when she returned home after
her harassing visit to the CITY, weary and
heart-sore. She went straight up stairs
to her own little bedroom, aud sat down
there and thought over all that Mr..
Bsyford had told her very sadly.
Then, after awhile, she rose, bathed
her eyes, and a resolute look came over
her pretty face.
81 must do what can - she thought;
"there is no one else to do it. 1 must
try to be mothers help
CHAPTER I.-LADY BLENKENsoP.
The same day Nancy wrote to her
mother S friend, Lady Blenkensop, and
told her truthfully how little there was
left for them to live on, and also how
Ill and broken down poor Mrs. LOTUS
was. And she added with flushed cheeks
and trembling hands,
LAS soon as dear mother is well |
enough for me to leave her, 1 shall be |
very grateful to you if you will help me |
to OBTAIN some situation that would en-
able me to assist mother, and so on.
The. lady to whom this letter was ad- |
dressed received it on the following |
morning at breakfast, and read it with |
her double gold glasses fixed on her high |
and well shaped nose.
She was good looking woman this, |
of some f1fty-five years, with clear,
shrewd. searching eyes, q fresh COM
plexion, and iron grey hair. Opposite
to her sat Gen. Blenkensop, a little
man. white haired and shrewd looking
also. He was reading a newspaper, but
laid it down when his wife addressed him.
''This is from Nancy Loftus,'' said
Lady BIenkensop, in a loud but not un-
pleasant voice.
She had very decided manner, and
spoke like woman who quickly made
up her mind.
"Ah?" answered the general, inquir-
ingly, looking at his wife through his
spectaoles. "And how are they getting
on, poor things?'
Every badly. Just as thought. Mrs.
LOTUS is i'll, and one cannot wonder at
it, and they are left wretchedly poor.