Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-24

Hugh clifford gave harsh, forced
laugh.
'.Missing with some lady-loye, no
Doubt" he said, soornfullY.
heard there was a girl he lived with
down the river somewhere; no doubt ne
has got tired of her and has run away
he III cast up.''
Nancy said nothing more. She moved
about the room and rang for Hugh 8
breakfast, and she thought by the face
of the man servant who carried 1t IN that
he had heard the news, too. 1t had
already, indeed. been discussed down.
stairs and freely commented on. II
Gerard, Lord Gilmore. were dead, then
Hugh Clifford was the next heir, they all
said. aud they respected the next heir
accordingly.
There were many versions of course OF
the same story, but the most generally
believed Que was that the unfortunate
young hunchbacked lord had been in
toxIcated when he entered the train,
and had been murdered for his money
while in a state of semi-insensibility.
What had become of his body no one
cnuIo tell, but the whole line OF railway
was being searched, and it was pro-
posed to offer a large reward for its re-
covery.
1t naturally was greatly talked Of.
Hugh Clifford had of course been we'll
known in society as Lord Gilmore, and
the strange events which had deprived
him of the title were also well known.
1t was strange If it should so soon go
back to him, people said; therefore the
efforts of the police were followed with
the keenest interest. Only Hugh Clifford
affected utter indifference about 1t, and
would shrug his shoulders when it was
mentioned to him.
''He will cast up, you VIII see, he
said, when he resppeared after his ILL
ness at his clubs, and some of his friends
began talking to him of his brothers.
strange disappearance; and he said the
same to Nancy at home, the same TO his
mother when some rumor having
reached her ears about her eldest son,
Lady Gilmore wrote to Hugh to make
inquiries.
But during all these days the most
miserable anxiety hung over Nancy's
heart. and told 50 visibly on her appear
auce, that when her old friend, Maj.
-Erne called one afternoon to see her, he
felt absolutely shocked. She was pale,
with violet rims round her heavy eyes,
In which there was strange new look of
fear.
'Have you been ill2'' asked Erne
with real concern.
''1've not been feeling well; 1 get
nervous headaches, answered Nancy
wi thout looking at his face.
al am so sorry; you ought to go down
and stay with Miss Clifford for change at
Gateford. She told me that 1 was to be
sure to call on you, and also to be sure
to ask to see your little son.
"Poor little baby!" said Nancy, with
tremulous lips.
erich little baby, 1 think, - smiled
Erne.
Nancy sighed and Erne could not un-
derstand how even the baby now failed
apparently to make Nanoy's heart more
light.
''Aud this story about your brother
fn-law,' he said presently. "How
much of it Is true?'' And he noticed
that Nancy grew paler as he spoke.
81 know nothing but what l have
seen in the papers, she answered.
"My-husband was i'll at the time when
Lord Gilmore is said to have disappeared,
and l was nursing him, and we heard
nothing of it for days-Hugh says he is
sure to cast up again.
"Yet the police think very seriously of
the case, believe.''
cit certainly does seem most strange.
What does Miss Clifford think about it?"
''Oh, Miss clifford thinks it is only g
freak-that Lord Gilmore has perhaps
run away with some one.
"WelI, we shall know soon, sup
pose, said Nancy neryously.
''Time clears up most of things
answered Erne. ''But you must let me
see her boy AS Miss Clifford calls your son,
or dare not face the old lady
Nancy SMILED and went out of the
room to fetch her baby, and returned
with him in her arms. A handsome little
fellow this, who put out his small hand
andgrasped one of Maj. Erne brown fin
gers who stopped down and kissed the
little fist.
"He looks remarkably well; he is GER
tainly lucky little ohappie, said
Erne, smiling.
"who knows?" answered Nancy,
'Who can tell?'' And she sighed, and
tenderly kissed the baoy's face.
They were still talking of him, when
another visitor was announced, and to
Nancy's great surprise Father Hayward
was ushered into the drawing-room.
The good priest looked very serious,
anu naVlD2 6nakeu MINUS Win Nancy
and Maj. Erne, he asked Nancy IL her
husband was IN the house.
al have some strange news for him, -
he said gravely.
"Not about-Gerard?'' asked Nancy,
with unmistakable agitation.
eyes, about Lord Gilmore,'' an
swered Father Hayward.
'Have-they found him, then?' al
most gasped Nancy.
The priest shook his head.
"Unhsppily not-but can see Mr.. Gift
ford?"
With trembling hands Nancy rang the
bell, and inquired of the servant if her
husband was at home.
The footman thought not, but went to
see, and q few moments later returned
to the drawing room and said Mr.. Clifford
was out.
"Then can speak to your" said the
priest.
"Yes-of course, - faltered Nancy.
Upon this Maj. Erne took his leave,
end the nurse was sent for to take the
baby; and Nancy found herself alone
with Father Hayward.
1--WE had a strange visitor at wroths-
ley yesterday" he began. 'But Will
you not sit down. Mrs. Clifford? You have
grown SO pale.