Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-18
Clifford and my boy may never have the
title after ALL -

Clifford and my boy may never have the
title after alI.''
THAT Is true. -
land the worst of It, too, for no doubl
this poor lad Gerard was not fit to bs
Lord Gilmore. could just shake tina,
stupid woman at Wrothsley when think
Of all the michief she has done, and the
trouble she has brought about by hel
folly and pride. For it was nothing
else. Ii Nancy LOTUS had been a
DUKES daughter instead of governess
we should never have heard a word
about the hunchback, who was supposed
TO be dead and in his coffin twenty-five
| years ago..
The priest said nothing more; he saw
in fact, II was useless to try to pursuade
Miss Clifford to try to break the terrible
news of her eldest SON. g death to Lady
Gilmore. and with very sorrowful heart
ne returned to Wrothsley, feeling that
this painful duty had now devolved Oh
| himself
He askedto see Lady Gilmore. and
found her in state of considerable ex-
! citement.
What is the matter, Father Hay
wardr' she said quickly, as the priest
entered the room. The children have
Just been here, and Dolly tells me the
servants are whispering together, and
won Z answer their questions and when
| sent for Mrs. Brewster message WAS
| brought to me that she was too i'll to see
me- Does-does this mean any thing?''
| she was sitting on couch dressed in q
| bedgown, and her face was pale and
twitohing, and there was look of great
anxiety In her eyes, and the good father
felt absolutely afraid to answer her ques-
ton.
''You must try not to excite your
| self - he said.
"You are keeping something back?
You have heard some news?' cried Lady
Gilmore, raising herself up and grasping
the end of the couch to support herself.
"Has anything been heard of Gerard
of myson?'
"There has some news been heard of
him, - said Father Hayward, slowly and
painfully.
mot bad news, say not bad news?'
asked Lady Gilmore in great excitement.
81 am getting uneasy, though Hugh
SAID 1 need not be. Surely he is not
ill?'
"No, Lady Gilmore, he is not i'll, -
answered the priest, solemnly.
"Then what is it? Why do you look so
strange? Oh, don't torture me thus!
Hss-has he done anything wrong-any
folly?"
Father Hayward cast down his eyes,
which were full of compassion for the
unhappy woman before him.
ga great sorrow has come to you, my
daughter, - he said; "a great trial and
grief-but we must bow to the Almighty
will
A piercing shrek interrupted Father
Hayward words. and Lady Gilmore
started forward and caught him by the
arm.
''What-what do you mean?' she
Dried, her face livid with sudden terror,
and her sunken eyes cleaning wildly.
81 entreat you to try to compose your
self-the sorrow 1 speak of comes to us
all-try, my daughter, 1 lmplore you, to
bear It with submission-your eldest son,
Lord Gilmore, ls-dead!'
Again wild and piercing shrek fell
on the priest IS startled ear.
dead! deadl'' she screamed.
"Surely not deadl OH Father Hay
wood, say not dead?''
She grasped his arm tighter, and
peered into his face with an expression of
such misery that the priest was visibly
moved.
s'It is sad and sorrowful tact - he
said slowly, "and 1 grieve greatly to be
forced to tell 1t to you-but Lord Gilmore
is dead.''
elbow did he die2 Why was 1 not
told, then, that he was ill?'' Dried Lady
Gilmore wildly. "Why was this kept
from me2"
Father Hayward was silent; what, in
deed, could he say?
fHow long was he Ill? Why don't
you speak?" went on the unhappy lady,
still looking wildly up in the PRIEST
averted face. '.Say, how did he die2''
"It-was sudden death, - faItered
Father Hayward.
"Sudden! Do you mean an aoci-
dent?''
Again the priest could find no words to
tell the dreadful truth.
''What are you keeping baok?" cried
Lady Gilmore. "You will drive me mad
tell me the truth-how did he die?"
at is a terrible thing-he is supposed
to have been murdered
"The shrek of horror which burst
from Lady Gilmore frenzied lips at this
dreadful word rang for days afterwards
in Father Hayward g ears.
"Murdered!' she repeated In a hol-
low voice of anguish. s'Now-now
punishment is greater
than can bear-dId Hugh
But she never finished the terrible
question trembling on her ashen lips. In
a moment the hideous thought flashed
through her brain that one brother had
taken the other Is life; that the sin of her |
youth had brought bitter misery first,
and now death, and the idea killed her. |
She staggered back and would have |
fallen had not Father Hayward caught |
her in his arms, and as he did so he in |
stantly perceived that she was stricken |
with another. and probably fatal fit.
He laid her quickly on the couch, and !
then rang violently for assistance, de- |
spatehing servant at once for the near
est doctor, and directing kilograms to |
be sent by the butler, Graham, for her |
usual physicians IN town. But long be-
fore any of them arrived, Father Hay
ward saw all medical assistance would |
be in VAN, and that the gathering mists |
of death were fast dimning Lady Gill
more IS sight.
He had but time to administer the last
holy rites of his church. and then stand
ing by her, holding the appraised crucifix
before her dying eyes, he implored her /
to think no longer of the troubles of the
world, but to give her last thoughts to
God.