Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-21

boy s face. am sure you would not wish me to
refuse to take the child? 1 must take him-I
have no other choice
Then III have nothing more to say to any of
YOU'LL alter my will
Nancy did not speak, but she cast down her
Won't that stop yOu'" inquired Miss Gift
ford grimly.
No, Miss Gifford,' again answered Nancy,
looking up, II must go.''
Upon this Col. Erre laid down his newspaper,
and approached the two ladies.
IF Mr.. Clifford is so ill., Miss Clifford, - he
said, sit is but natural he shouldwish to see
his child
He chose to forsake his child, and his wife
too, - retorted the ancient lacy.
. But the approach OF death makes a great
difference. - answered Erue. And it is like
Nancy to co.
He had never called her Nancy in Miss Gift
ford's presence before, and she instantly re-
marked it.
when do YOU wish to go?' he continued now
addressing Nancy.
ITO day, >" she answered. 'he-poor fellow
says he may not live many days"
''If you will allow me, will escort you
there, then went on Ernei 1T wonld be too
much for you to go alone with the child
''1hank you Godfrey answered Nancy CRATE
fnlly, and simply; sit will be great comfort to
me to have you with me-
HUM grunted Miss Clifford Indignantly,
and then she turned her back and hobbied out OF
the room.
After she had gone Nancy and Frne soon ar
rangeu all the details of their journey, and
hour later thev had left The Manor House,
taking with them Master Tommy and his nurse.
They travelled quickly as they could, and said
very little to each other on the way; the boy
carrying on the principal part of the converse
ton. Miss Clifford had condescended to bid
them goodbye and had kissed Tommy, but not
Nancy, TO mark her disapproval of her conduct.
Bring the boy back at any rate, - she said to
Erne as parting salutation.
II shall bring them both back, answered
''I'm not SO sure of that, - retorted Miss Gift
ford, and these vords did not add to Erne's
hR ppiness during the journey.
Nancy noticed how much more restless he was
than usual, and how his lips twitched. But he
said nothing on the subject of his own feelings,
but was grave and kindly, as usual, and did
everything he could for the comfort of Nancy
and the boy.
Then when they arrived at Paris, they drove
direct 10 hotel, where they left Master Tommy
and his nurse. and then proceeded at once to the
address that Hugh G ford had given Nancy in
his letter. Erne here descended from the car
riage, and left Nancy pale and trembling. A
moment or two later the door of the house was
opened, and Erne held a short conversation in
too low tone for Nancy to hear, whose heart
was now beating almost audi5ly.
Presently Erne went back to the carriage, and
Nancy noticed that his face was very white.
Let me get in beside you for a moment
two, Nancy he said, and in another instant
he was at her side.
II have something to tell you, Nancy he
went on and he took her hand.
''What is t?'' she asked, family.
lit is something We. sad'
q ..
Yes" answered Erne gently to the unspoken
question: Mr.. Clifford oied suddenly this
morning-he went out for a short walk, and
broke a hlood-vessel in the Streets"
''Oh odfrey!' cried Nancy, and she put
her hand over her face, and tears rushed into
~ viii tell the driver to take turn or two.
said Erne, 1.-The shock must be very great to
YOU
y ancy did not speak; she leaned back in the
carrlal e, and thought OF the brief life that had
just closed. She thought too of the dark tragedy
that was now ended, and of the mother and TWO
so s, whose fates had been so dear.
II saw his servant, - continued Erne speak
ing, still IN that kind considerate voice, land
he told me he did not suffer much, but that he
had been getting gradually weaker for more
than year-poor fellow, he is quite young is he
not?''
Eyes answered Nancy with sob.
1T is a pity he did not live to see his child.'
Yes again said poor Nancy but in her
heart she knew it was better for his child that
he was gone. There was no danger now, and
the shadow of his fathers hidden sin could
never fall on the boys innocent head.
= should like TO see him. presently said
Nancy, raising herself up.
Il thought you would like TO see him, - re-
piled Erne, so l told the driver to keep in the
SO they returned to the house where Hugh
Clifford had died in his young manhood, and
Nancy STOOD still and silent, looking at the face
now so calm and beautiful. Erne went into the
death chamber with her, but in little while
Nancy asked to be left alone, and as the door
closed after Erne she fell down on her knees by
the side of the dead man.
'Oh God be merciful to him - she PRAYED;
g he suffered so much-Oh! poor, poor Hugh!''
Long she knelt there, praying for him in her
simple heartfelt words. She had forgiven him
all his wrongs against her, and only remem-
beTed his temptations and his bitter remorse.
And she thought too of the days when he had
loved her, and of their brief happiness in the
very city where he had passed away, miserable
and alone.
81 will bring your boy to see you, Hugh she
softly before she left him, and she
and coli brpty Fr1, har,
some familiar face.
She took the child to see him the next day. and
the little fellow, with no small awe, laid a
beautiful wreath on his dead fathers breast, and
the sc flowers We're afterwards pl. ced with him
in his grave. 1t pleased Nancy to do everything
as though Hugh clifford had never sinned against
her, and Erne silently watching her began to
wonder if her love had survived his absence and
neglect. But it not so; and when Erne
asked her if she wished to convey his body to
Wrothsley, she answered with sudden agita-
lion.
''No, no certainly not-let him sleep here"
Not among his kindred in the family vault of
he chapel attached to the great mansion his
grandfather had built; not by the mother whose
life he had destroyed. Let him sleep far away
from them-among strangers-and Nancy shud-
lered, and thought the dead brothers would not
rest in peace if laid side by side.
So they buried him in the city where he died,
and his wife and child followed him to his grave,
and laid flowers there, and paid him all outward
'emblence of respect and affection. No one but
Nancy knew the dark secret that was buried
With him; though one of those who stood round
MS grave suspected it. for somehow Erne had |
always, in his own mind, connected Hugh Gift
ord with his brothers. tragic death.
He had left will, and Nancy suddenly found |
herself q rich woman. He had bequeathed FIVE |
thousand year 20 her for life, and the control |
IF the whole of his large income until his son |
became of age. His mother death had brought |
great accession to his fortune, and he had |
lied 4 wealthy though most miserable man.
Nancy and her boy remained about q week in |
Paris after he was buried, and then the young |
widow and her returned to England, and |
Nancy went, by Miss Giford's especial request |
straight back to Gateford, only stopping few |
hours in town to see her mother.
Miss Clifford. indeed, felt not little ashamed |
If herself when she heard of Hugh Giford's sud |
len and melancholy death. To do her justice |
she had not believed be was dying at ALL and |
hat he should die when his wife and child were |
actually on their way TO bid him goodbye, |
Affected the old lady very strangely.
But it's good thing at last she decided; |
moisture in her eyes, and made allusion at all |
o the melancholy cause of her hurried journey, |
lor her own bad temper about it.
Master Tommy had brought her as present |
rom Paris a wonderfully beautiful white EN-
'roidered shawl, and the old lady accepted the |
very grEciously. She also re- |
,elved Erne very graciously.
Thank you for bringing them both safely |
pack" she said.
~ know what good care you take of them
both, an swered Erne smiling pleasantly and |
hen changed the compensation which he thought |
night be painful to Nancy.
Nevertheless September waned ilto October,
IND october crept on apace, and the russell |
caves began to fall in showers from the tall |
lime OF tee,