Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14
THE GAZETTE: FORT WORTH TEXAS SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER

| Clifford had left you. and that you had
| quarrelled; and told him pretty plainly
| to his face that didn't believe you were
a woman to quarrel without very good
cause, which suppose you had?"
Nancy WIS silent.
1.-THE long and short of It is, child
that l think he has behaved shamefully
to you, and I've come up to London on
purpose to take you and little Tommy
back with me to Gateford, and l think
the sooner you make up your mind to
leave here the better -
"You are very good.
"No, IN not! 1 don It set up to be
good, but wish people 10 know that you
are not to blame in this matter; that the
person 10 blame is Hugh Clifford, and all
can say is he ought to be thoroughly
ashamed of himself if be isn't!'
"My mother is with me, you know, -
said Nancy, gently.
Eyes, l know; but your mother can't
give you the same position in the world
now that your husband has left you, as
your husband great aunt can. How Is
the child?''
VERY well, indeed" Raid Nancy.
smiling.
''send for him, and make up your
Tomorrow, for you want country air
and change for one thing ard protection
for another. -
And the old lady got her own way and
took Nancy aud her boy back with her to
Gateford Manor House and Nancy told
herself she was glad TO go; glad TO leave
the house where she had suffered such
haunting anxiety and dread.
In the still old garden at Gatetord, with
Its trim clipped yew hedges, its ancient
sun-dial, aud moss-grown walks, she
somehow 1t more at peace. The child
thrOve here too, and the dark shadows
from the past seemed further away. And
sometimes Godfrey Erne used to ride over
to Gateford and the old lady always made
him welcome. Thus the summer passed
away, and In the early autumn news
came to Gateford that Gerard s child was
Torn, and that new Lord Gilmore had
come to share tine pleasures aud troubles
of the world.
And this news was relief to Nancy,
though great disappointment to Miss
Clifford, who openly grumbled at 1t.
"Nobody wanted it, she said; ''lit-
tie Tommy should have been the heir,
not this fisher-girl's brat"
But Nancy took her boy in her arms
and kissed him tenderly, and murmured
softly some words of thapkfulness in his
eur
The birth of this child she knew would
prevent Hugh Clifford from agaiu holding
prominent position in the world; would
probably keep him still abroad, and
Nancy knew that this was best. And a
week or two later, when at the earnest
advice of MIR. Stafford, the family law
yer, and Father Hayward, May, now
Lady Gilmore, came to reside at Wroths-
ley with her baby, Nancy proposed one
day to Miss Clifford that they should go
to call on her.
mot l, 'replied the old lady brusquely
~ IN no hypocrite, and cannot go and
tell her l am pleased to see either her or
her baby, when am not. -
81 should like to go If you don't OBJ
iect, Miss Clifford. Poor young woman,
l feel so much for her, and l should like
to lake our boy, - said Nancy.
This soft answer Modified Miss Clifford.
"Well, my dear, you are your own
mistress; go, if you want to go, and I've
no object on for the hey going too, if
you choose to take him. -
Thus Nancy went, taking with her the
line little fellow; VINO was the idol of the
up to the stately mansion which had
once been her home, and where her baby
had been born, she could scarcely con-
troll her emotions.
She mad not been strong enough before
to go to Wrothsley, since she had been at
Miss Clifford 3, but Miss Pennythorue and
the children had been twice over to
spend the day at Gsteford while she had
uot been there. And Nancy had written
to Miss Pennythorne to tell her of her
proposed yisi; TO young Lady Gilmore,
and there was grent excitement in con-
sequence at the castle.
She was received at the entrance by
Graham with great state, and conducted
to the morning room which poor Lady
Gilmore used TO occupy; and as she en-
tered it, carrying her little son in her
arms, pretty fair young woman in the
deepest mourning rose to receive her.
''Mrs. Hugh Clifford, my lady E" an
nounced Graham, aud thus for the first
time the sisters-in-iaw met, athwart
whose lives such o tragic shadow had
fallen.
Nancy put out her hand little uerv-
ously, and May took it gratefully and
tremblingly.
cit is very good. of you to come and
see me, " she said.
IL am very pleased to do so,'' an
swered Nancy gently.
"And this is your little boy?" said
May wistfully, and she took Master
Tommy's sturdy hand. "What a fine
little fellow-he looks far stronger than
my poor little one.
"He has always been strong, l am
happy to say
"He is beautiful child-the children
told me about hint is very kind OF you
to have brought him to-day
"You must Introduce him to his little
cousin, - smiled Nancy.
Eyes, my poor baby is delioate-but
no wonder!"
Mays delicate complexion flushed
painfully as she made this ailusion to the
sorrowful circumstances of the birth of
her little son.
Nancy did not speak for @ moment,
then she suddenly and impulsively put
out her hand and clasped the young
Widows.
"Do not let US talk of-the past,n
she said with emotion; ''let US talk of
the children. l should like to see your
baby
So the little heir of this magnificent
house and the vast wealth left by his
MISREPRESENTATION was brought in
for ina