Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14

"That Is true. -
land the worst OF II, too, for no doubt
this poor lad Gerard was not fit to be
: Lord Gilmore. could just shake that
stupid woman at Wrothsey when think
of ali the michef she has done, and the
trouble she has brought about by her
folly and pride For ii was nothing
else. II Nancy LOTUS had been n
duke's daughter instead OF a governess,
we should never have heard a word
about the hunchback, who was supposed
to be dead and in his coffin twenty-fi
years ago.
The priest said nothing more; he saw
in fact, ii was useless 10 try to pursuade
Miss Clifford TO try to break the terrible
news of her eldest son IS death to Lady
Gilmore. and with very sorvowful heart
he returned to Wrothsley, feeling that
this painful duty had now devolved on
himself.
He asked to see Lady Gilmore, and
found her in state of considerable ex-
element.
'What Is the matter, Father Hay
wardF' she said quickly, as the priest
entered ths room. The children have
just been here, and Dolly tells me the
servants are whispering together, and
won t answer their questions; and when
] cent for Mrs. Brewster message was
brought to me that she was too i'll to see
me. Does-dOes this mean anything?'
She was sitting on couch dressed in
bedgown, AID her face was pale and
twitching, and there was look of great
anxiety in her eyes, aud 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 uews?'' 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.
'Not bad news, say not bad uews?"
asked Lady Gilmore 10 great excitement.
al am getting uneasy, though Hugh
SAID l need not be. Surely he is not
| m2'
"No, Lady Gilmore, he is not i'll, -
answered the priest. sOlemnly.
"Then what is II? Why do you look so
strange? Oh, don't torture me thus!
Has-has he done anything wroug-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's words, and Lady Gilmore
started forward and caught him by the
| arm.
What-what DO you mean?'' she
cried her face livid with sudden terror,
| and her sunken eyes cleaning wildly.
81 entreat you to try to compose your
self-the sorrow speak of comes to US
all-try, my daughter, lmplore you, TO
bear it with submission-your eldest son,
Lord Gilmore, Is-dead!"
Again a wild and piercing shrek fell
OIL the priests startled ear.
"Deadl dead!' 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.
at is sad and sorrowful tact, - he
said slowly, land l grieve greatly to be
forced TO tell it TO you-but Lord Gilmore
is dead. -
"How did he die? Why was l not
told, then, that he was ill?' cried Lady
Gilmore wildly. "Why was this kept
from me?''
Father Hayward was silent; what, in
deed. could he say?
"How long was he Ill? Why don't
you speak," went on the unhappy lady,
still looking wildly up in the priests
averted face. Essay, how old he die?"
"It-wus q sudden DEATH" faltered
Father Hayward.
Sudden! Do you mean an aoci-
dent2''
Again the priest could find no words to
tell the dreadful truth.
"What are you keeping back?' 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-''
1.-The shrek of horror which burst
from Lady Gilmore's frenzied lips at this
dreadful word rang for days afterwards
IN Father Hayward 8 ears.
"Murdered! - she repeated in q hol-
low voice of anguish. "Now-now
understand-mY punishment Is greater
than can bear-dId Hugh-''
But she never finished the terrible
question trembling on her asheu lips. In
q moment the hIdeous thought flashed
through ner brain that one brother had
taken the other g life; that the sin of her
youth had brought bitter misery first,
and now death, ana 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 q fatal fit.
He laid her quickly on the couch, and
thtn rang violently for ASSISTANCE, de-
spatrhinS n servant at once for the near
est doctor, and directing kilograms to
be sent by the butler, Graham, for her
usual physicians III town. But long be-
fore any of them arrived, Father Hay
ward saw all medical assistance would
be in VAN, aud that the gathering mists
of death were fast dimning Lady Gil
more 8 sight.
He had but time to administer the last
holy rites of his church, and then stand
ing by her, holding the appraised crucitix
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.
LET yonr sorrows cease now, my
daughter, he cried; ION the portals of
eternity do not look backl''