Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-01


cumstanees you would not come here.
''It was the circumstances that EN-
boldensd me to come,' answered Gil
more; "a the disgraeeful way in which you
daughter was treated under my roof
must be my excuse -
''Still it is unwise-my daughter /
only q young girl, and cannot per
nit
| ''Mrs. LOTUS, - interrupted Gilmore
as Mrs. LOTUS hesitatsd and paused, 90
am sure you cRunot suspect me OF any.
thing but honorable motives in comm!
here-l came TO ask your daughter to b.
| my wife.
| A little startled exclamation burst
| from Nanoy's lips at this announcement
which certainly had not been made Il
her; and Mrs. LOTUS delicate face
flushed deeply.
''It is a great honor to Nancy - she
said falteringly; 'fbut your mother
"My mother has nothing Whatever tc
do with my actions, and the way she
treated Nancy was enough to disgust am
man. In fact, there is just one request ]
have to make, If Nancy here Will honor
me by accepting me?'' and Gilmore
rdently caught Nanoy's little hand in
his. land this request is that my
mother should know nothing of our en-
gagement until after our marriage
which hope Nancy will permit to be
very soon?"
al think that I had better leave YOU
two to settle your own affairs, - smiled
Mrs. LOTUS. "Thank you, Lord Gill
more, for your generous and noble con-
duct to my child"
"Well, have you turned him out?''
asked Aunt Fannie, eagerly, as Mrs.
Lotus re-entered the dining-room.
"Hush, Fannie, you do not UNDER
stand,' answered the proud, fond
mother, whose dark eyes were wet with
tears. che came to ask Nancy to be his
wife.
al will never believe it," began Aunt
Fannie, positively.
"It is a fact, nevertheless, said
Mrs. LOTUS, with mild triumph, "and
their marriage will take place very soon,
l believe-Lord Gilmore has behaved
very nobly.'
Aunt Fannie was speechless for some
minutes after this. and sat with her eyes
fixed with stony expression of utter
establishments; then presently she aroused
herself.
''It is very odd thing" she said
nodding her head sagely, "but do
you remember Lucy. what said to you
about Nancy, when it was first Fixed
that she had to go to Lady Gilmore 's?"
"No, Fanny, what did you saY?'
81 said that girl was sure to make a
good match-there, and you see l have
been right, though OF course never
thought of her entering the peerage-it's
just wonderful, and her poor father
would have been proud and happy man
if he had lived to see this day!"
"We ought all to be very very thank
full. - said Mrs. LOTUS, gently; and no
words were ever more truly spoken from
q woman Is heart.
And in the golden days that followed
Mrs. Lotus had no reason to change her
first opinion of Gilmore. He almost
lived at the little house in West Hamp- |
stead, and seemed never happy when |
Nancy was out of his sight. She was |
his last new toy in fact-the sweetest, |
he dearest one-he told himself, and be |
was really and truly in love with her, |
and he did not regret the words be had |
spoken to her mother, almost without
which had plighted his
roth TO Nancy. Ha had seen, in fact,
hat he would lose her unless he married
Ter, and he was ready to make any sac
'ifiee rather than do this.
And Nancy? She was a blithe and
Happy maiden IN these days, with her
handsome lover by her side and bright |
uturc lying before her, athwart which
10 shadow seemed to fall. Their engage
neut by Gilnore's wish was kept a pro-
ound secret from all but the members
f the family, and even when Lady BIen-
ensop wrote a most severe letter to
heard Lady Gilmore's
toTy-by Gilmore g request she made no
eply to it.
These letters, however, had one effect,
hey made Gilmore most anxious to be |
larrled Immediately, and they made
Tanoy and Mrs. Lotus, also desirious
nat Nanoy's real position with Lord
ifmore should be known. Gilmore had
Their and private reasons also for haste
nd secrecy about his marriage, and
lerefore just two weeks after Nancy
ad been so ANONYMOUSLY sent home
ON Wrothsley, very quietly one early
corning, Hugh Clifford, third Lord Gill
lore, was married to Nancy Lotus in
lie parish church. =,
Aunt Fannie behaved most generouslx3I
! the occasion, and presented eI00 81
lie happy bride, and her bridegrooI8's
wish hand provided her with everything
le could require. But none in4the
rect or the neighborhood knew thatsthe
arriage was going to take place except
e clergyman who married them utItu
was over, nay until the bride ana
'idegroom were actually gone.
But before he left Gilmore wrote a
tier to his mother to tell her that all
r words and warning had been in
in.
Dear Mother,'' he inscribed in his {
rye, scrawling handwriting, az did IL
t reply to your letter before becausg1 !
u used in it certain very uniust.sex-
essions of the girl to whom l waSthen
gagged. and to whom am now mar
ID. was married this morIing to
lncy LOTUS, and mean to tdke her
road for year or more, and Hspe by :.
3 time Of our return you will be aeon
ed to my choice. /, for one, am Wi
: to let by-gones be by-gones, and ~
NIX We had all better bury the hatchet,
{ you ses you did not act very wisely in
rning Nancy cut of the house, when
} will return to il as its mistress I