Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-17
CHAPTER xXXvIH.-THE TIGHTENING OF THE


CHAPTER SXXvII.-THE TIGHTENING OF THE
CHAIN 49,.
He kept his promise and went the next day tc
have lunch with Madame de Costa-tellinv NAV
he was going up the river with some men-and
he sat in the sunny garden, and listened again
TO the singing OF the birds, and to the sweet low
voice by his side.
Everything in the villa told of case of circum-
stances except the small number OF domestic at
PENDANTS. The dark-browed Spanish woman
waited at the table, and the dark browed
Spaniard cooked the meal. But what did this
matter to Gilmore? He was not thinking of the
dishes before him, but of the beautiful woman
whose face haunted him when he was absent
from her, aud from whose features when she
was present his hazel eyes could not stray.
The food it must be admitted had strong
favor of garlic. but the wine which Madam de
Costa onered her guest was of rare vintage, and
great price, and Gilmore drank of it freely, and
the generous beverage ioosed his tongue. He
his babyhood, boyhood and youth, and how his
brother, "a conceted stuck-up fool of fellow -
took everything he could get from him. and yet,
actually had not the decency to DE civil.
II cut his face for him once though, added
Gilmore with laugh, and he never noticed
msdame's expression as he spoke. He said
something lmpudent to me, and / flung a
wine glass at his head, and serve him right!''
Madame said no word; she rose from her
table hastily while he went on boastiug, and
presently proposed that they should go and sit
under the trees, in the garden, and that Isabel
should carry the wine there. Gilmore was
delighted to do this. and began telling madame
Wrothsley, and once he aecidently mentioned
the name of his brothers. wife.
And what is she like?'' asked madame turn
ing suddenly round, and looking at him with
her great eyes lit with suppressed emotion,
This wife?''
"A great deal too good for him. answered
for another she's a sweet little girl. and really
like her-they have got boy now
All" and with quick movement madame
put her hand to her heart as if in sudden pain,
and grew deadly pale.
You are not i'll, are youF'' asked Gilmore,
looking at her.
why, you have grown quite pale, - sail Gill
more anxiously; ''iet me give you some wine,
and do let me persuade yon to drink it: .
payne as he spoke and handed it to madame,
who eagerly drank it.
- 1t soothes pain, - she said, with q half bitter
laugh; ''it makes us forget"
You are looking better now-you gave me
quite fright. de you know. -
1t is good of my lord 10 say so-but come,
We must not get sad. Do you love the inando,
liner Juan and Isabel do sing to 1.-THE songs
of their native land
II should like to hear them
81 shall bid them commence then, and re-
turn in few moments to my lord, who must
smoke his cigarettes meanwhile
She rose as she spoke, and returned to the
villa. and was absent nearly quarter of-an-
hour, and all the while Gilmore was thinking of
her an her lwondrous beauty, though he did
not neglect also to quench his thirst occasion
ally with the good wine before him, and took
madame's advice concerning the cigarettes.
Then she came back and sat by his side
having nov flung black Spanish lace nantllls
around her shapely head, and fastened
yellow rosebud in her hair, as if purposely to
enhance her rich loveliness; snd scarcely had
she returned, when unseen somewhere beneath
the trees the mandoline players began to
sing.
The woman commenced the first verse in full
contralto voice, and Juan answered from dis
tant part of the garden-probably from his
favorite seat on the stockade ny the river edge
lin passionate and melodious strains.
They are singing of love- said madame
softly.
mo other theme would be suitable here"
answered Gilmore ardentiy, to be here and not
to love would be impossible.
And does my lord feel happy heres''
''Happyi only too happy-when am here
And SO he went talking folly and the
beautiful woman by his side listened with smiles
and signs. She had not the resources of an
Englishwom2n in conversation, and had to
make up with semi-tender glances OF her lus-
trous eyes, and pretty batteries which Gil
more's vain heart loved. BE made another ap-
pointment with her before he left her. and the
next day went up to town 20 purchase some
iewelry that he thought would be worthy of her
acceptance, and in his open handed generous
fashion, threw away many hundreds the
bauhle.
But to his great surprise, madame refused to
accept his gift.
hack.
'.But surely a little thing like this-just to
please me, - pleaded Gilmore.
But no-madame was frm-she would accent
nothing. and Gilmore vas forced 10 carry his