Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-18

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she was not thinking of the old breast
plates and helmets, but of Gilmore
name in Nauoy's book.
And the next morning she asked Lady
Gilmore if she might take the children
| out with her for walk in the park.
"And we'll leave the handsome Cover.
ness ct home, if we may?'' she said
smiling; al hate TO talk to people of tha
kindI''
"Of course, my dear" answered
Lady Gilmore; "and am sure the chill
dren will be delighted to go with you
only don It let them bore you
"They could never do that; they art
two dear, beautiful little girls
HThey are like Gilmore, L think -
said Lady Gilmore softly, and then SHE
sighed, anxiously thinking of her absent
son.
The children were delighted to go with
Miss Butler, and that young lady very
soon, and with affected carelessness
introduced the name of their gov
erness.
"'Do you like herP'' she asked.
"Oh, very much,'' they both an
swered, 'she is always kind and
pleasant. 1"
"Does your brother like herr But !
suppose he doesn't know herr" con-
tinued Miss Butler, pursuing her in
quiries.
"Oh, but he does, though" replied
Dossy, with some pride in her tone.
81 introduced them in the park one
day, and he walked with us to the lake
and then he went away; and another
day We had a talk with him, too,
aud he said something to Miss Lotus
that made her face turn very red,
but 1 do not know what it
was.
"Ah!', said Miss Butler, aud she
drew in her pretty red lips tightly, Rad
an angry flash shot into her blue eyes.
''And, she asked q moment later
fdoes Gilmore ever go into the school
room to play with you?''
"Oh, no, - said Dessy, 90 and yet we
are not so far off him, either, so it is
very mean of him, for his rooms, you
know, are in the wing next to ours, but
there's staircase between them, but
the doors are always locked, for Flossy
and have tried"
Miss Butler made one or two more in
quiries, and then made an appointment
with the children to view the armour in
the corridor during the afternoon.
FMiss Lotus often walks in the corri-
dor, - volunteered Dossy, "every after
noon, about now, she goes; but it 5 too
cool for our taste, we prefer sitting by
the schoolroom fire.. -
"Ah!" again calculated Miss Butler,
for now she thought she understood it
all. Why Gilmore had been cold and
Indifferent to her; why he never fingered
by her side.
He is carrying on an intrigue with
the gO7erness,' she thought vindic-
lively; ''hut 1 must be sure, and then
Lady Gilmore shall know
She went the same afternoon to the
corridor, and having raped ct the
sohoolroom door, found the children
alone there.
''Miss LOTUS is walking outside, -
they told her; and then, when they pro-
Nancy but Miss Butler treated her with
but scant courtesy, merely slightly bow
ing her head as they passed.
"We'u be back soon, Miss LOTUS -
cried Dossy, looking round, ave are
only going to show Miss Butler the
armour; some of it is very good, you
know
Every we'll, I" answered Nancy, and
with flushed face and beating heart
she retired into the schoolroom, for there
had been something in Miss Buffers
manner she could not understand.
The other three-the children and Miss
Butlsr-walked on to the very end of the
corridor, Dossy pointing outthe different
pieces of ancient armour as they went.
When they reached the door that led to
the staircase, which was covered with
green baize, Miss Butler touched it.
els this the door, % she said, ''that
you told me about, that leads somewhere
or other?''
Dossy eagerly explained: ''fsfeads to
the west wing" she said, "where Gill
more's rooms are; you go in there, and
then come to a staircase, and you go up
the staircase, and then come to another
door, but that one is always kept locked;
IN fact, 1 do not think it has a key; it is
never used.''
Miss Butler smiled vaguely.
land these rooms" she said, point
ing to one or two doors near the end OF
the corridor, "ars they all used?"
"Oh, no." answered Dossy, "they
are bedrooms, but no one ever sleeps in
them; the only rooms used down this
corridor are ours-our sehoolToom and
bedroom, you know, and our maid g
room, and our govarness the rest are
empty, like this one,'' and she turned
the handle of one of the unused bedroom
doors as she spoke.
"They seem nice rooms,' said Miss
Butler, looking in; and then she returned
slowly up the corridor, her curiosity hav-
ing been satisfied, and declin ed Dossy's
eagerly urged hospitality to take tea
with them in the school-room.
She did not mention this visit to the
armoury at dinner TO Lady Gilmore, nor
did che again speak Of the governor DUR
ing the days of Gilmore's continued abb
Senoe. He was away FIVE days, and then
one morning to his mothers unspeakable
delight she received letter from him,
to tell her that he would return to Wroth-
sley on the following afternoon.
"He has hurried back to see you, am
sure, my DEAR" she said, joyfully, to
Miss Butler, whose face flushed
strangely, as Lady Gilmore said these
words, but it was not happy blush that
stained Miss Buffers cheeks.
And the same post which carried the
news of her son g return to Lady Gill
more, brought another letter to Wroths-
ley. This was for Miss LOTUS, and
though not directed in the same hand
writing was yet from Gilmore, and
Nancy read it with q fast-beating,
happy, yet troubled heart.