Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-18

pose you think. Ell? Well, that friend
of yours, Maj. Erne. told me that Hugh
Clifford had left you. and that you had
quarrelled; and told him pretty plainly
TO his face that didn Z believe you were
woman to quarrel without very good
cause, which suppose you had?''
Nancy was silent.
1.-THE long and short of 1t is, child
that think he has behaved shamefully
to you, and I've come up to London on
purpose to take you and little Tommy
back with me to Gateford, and think
the sooner you make up your mind to
leave here the better.
"You are very good. -
mo, IN not! 1 don t set up to be
good, but wish people to know that you
are not to blame in this matter; that the
person TO blame is Hugh Clifford, and all
l can say is he ought to be thoroughly
ashamed of himself il he ism III
tMy mother is with me, you know -
said Nancy, gently.
~''Yes, know: but your mother can t
give you the same position in the world
now that your husband has left you, as
your husband s great aunt can. How is
the child2'
Every well. indeed said Nancy.
smiling.
'.Send for him, and make up your
mind to go back with me the day after
tomorrow, for you want country air
and change for one thing and protection
for another
And the old lady got her own way and
took Nancy and her boy back with her to
| Gateford Manor House and Nancy told
herself she was glad to go; glad to leave
the house where she had suffered such
haunting anxiety and dread.
In the still old garden at Gateford, with
its trim clipped yew hedges. its ancient
sun-dial, and moss-grown walks, she
somehow felt more at peace. The child
| throve here too, and the dark shadows
from the past seemed further away. And
sometimes Godfrey Erne used to ride over
to Gateford and the old lady always made
| him welcome. Thus the summer passed
| away and in the early autumn news
came to Gateford that Gerard 3 child was
Lorn, and that a new Lord Gilmore had
come to share the pleasures and troubles
of the world.
And this news was a relief to Nancy,
though great disappointment to Miss
Clifford, who openly grumbled at it.
"Nobody wanted il, - she said; ''lit-
| tie Tommy should have been the heir,
! not this fisher-girl's brat
But Nancy took her boy In her arms
and kissed him tenderly, and murmured
softly some words of thankfulness in his
ear.
The birth of this child she knew would
prevent Hugh Clifford from again holding
a prominent position In the world; would
probably keep him still abroad, and
Nancy knew that this was best. And
week or two later, when at the earnest
advice of Mr.. Stafford, the family law
yer, and Father Hayward, May, now
Lady Gilmore. came to reside at Wroths-
ley with her baby, Nancy proposed one
day to Miss Clifford that they should go
to call on her.
CT I'M no hypocrite, and cannot go and
tell her 1 am pleased to see either her or
her baby, when am not
81 should like to go if you don't OBJ
ject, Miss Clifford. Poor young woman,
feel so much for her, and should like
to take our boy, - said Nancy.
This soft answer Modified Miss Clifford.
tWell, my dear, you are your own
mistress; go, If you want to go, and I've
no objection for the boy going too, il
you choose to take him..
Thus Nancy went, taking with her the
fine little fellow; who was the idol of the
household at Gateford; and as she drove
up TO the stately mansion which had
once been her home, and where her baby
had been born. she could scarcely con-
troll her emotions.
She had not been strong enough before
to go to Wrothsley, SINCE she had been at
Miss Clifford q, but Miss Pennythorne and
the children had been twice over TO
spend the day at Gsteford while she had
not been there. And Nancy had written
to Miss Pennythorne to tell her of her
proposed visit to young Lady Gilmore.
and there was great excitement in con-
sequence at the castle.
She was received at the entrance by
Graham with great state, and conducted
to the morning room which poor Lady
Gilmore used to occupy; and as she en-
tered it, carrying her little son in her
arms, pretty fair young woman in the
deepest mourning rose to receive her.
''Mrs. Hugh Clifford. my lady, an
nounced. Graham, and thus for the first
time the sisters-in-law met, athwart
whose lives such tragic shadow had
fallen.
Nancy put out her hand little nerv-
ously, and May took it gratefully and
.tremblingIy.
cit is very good of you TO come and
see me, - she said.
~ am very pleased to do so,'' an
swered Nancy gently.
land this is your little boy?' said
May wistfully, and she took Master
Tommy q sturdy hand. ''What fine
little fellow-he looks far stronger than |
my poor little one.'
'sHe has always been strong, I am
happy to say.
''He is beautiful child-ths children |
told me about hint is very kind OF you
to have brought him to-day
seYou must introduce him to his little |
cousin, - smiled Nancy.
eyes, my poor baby is delioate-but
no wonderl''
Nays delicate complexion flushed |
painfully as she made this a,lusion to the |
sorrowful circumstances Of the birth of |
her little son.
Nancy did not speak for moment, |
then she suddenly and impulsively put
out her hand and clasped the young |
Widows.
"Do not let us talk of-the past, -
she said with emotion; 'slet US talk of |
the children. / should like to see your
baby
So the little heir of this magnificent
house and the vast wealth left by his