Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-15


circumference, and in summertime was
beautiful with its green and varied
slopes, its lake, and magnificent trees,
beneath which the dappled deer browsed
and the wild birds sang. Sir Thomas
Clifford, when he bought Wrothsley, had
pulled down the old hall that stood amid
its woods and wilds, and had reared the
stately pile he considered suitable to his
new state.
And he had spared neither money nor
care, on the great Elizabethan mansion
that he built. It's we'll balanced masses
and the magnificence of its details made
1t show house in the county, and the
old man had been proud of it and was
never weary OF pointing out it's beauties
to friends that he had known in humber
DAYS, and would boast of the vast sums
that the pictures alone had cost him, and
beautiful statuary marble mantel-pieces
and the Aubuseen tapestry.
The lake was lovely spot, quite a
mile-and-a-half from the house, and
Nancy had never seen it, but urged now
by Gilmore to comply with the children g
request, she consented to go. Presently
the little girls ran on, and she was vir-
tually alone with Gilmore.
''Do you know 1 have watched and
waited over an hour this morning to see
you," he said, when the children were
out of hearing.
Nancy felt greatly embarrassed by this
speech, for more than once during the
morning she had taken herself to task !,
and had told herself it would never do
for her to be seen walking with the young
lord.
'You promised to talk to me some
times, you know, before you ran away
yesterday continued Gilmore, $50
you will forgive me watching for you.
won't you?"
81 hope you won't do so anymore,
Lord Gilmore" said Nancy, nervously.
"You see Lady Gilmore would not like
tit will only bring me trouble.
al have thought of that, too, &"
answered Gilmore, "for women are so
absurd about some things, and my
mother has very jealous and exsctiug
nature, but still we could meet, you
know, on the quiet?''
81 could, not do that, - said Nancy,
raising her head little proudly.
"Do not misunderstood me, please;
only meant that to avoid the COMPOUNDED
gossip and talk, that some people will
make about nothing; we could arrange
some place where we could see each
other, and have pleasant chat like we
had yesterday. 1t must be horribly dull
for young girl like you to be shut up
in a school room all day with two chill
dren. -
"Governesses are not supposed to lead
gay lives, you know, - replied Nancy a
little archly.
"That is all nonsense; it is a pleasure
to me to talk to you, and unless you dis
like it,
Nanoy's deepening blush was her only
answer, and as Gilmore turned to look at
her, he caught glimpse of the rosebud
nesting by her throat.
cat least you honor me by wearing
my poor flowers, - he said. well-pleased.
"But even that has nearly got me into
trouble already - said Nancy, smiling;
''Miss Dossy Immediately inquired if
one of the gardeners mad given it to me. -
"Tiresome monkey"
$50 you see, Lord Gilmore
''I don see it at all. Will you come
down to the Conservatives again this
afternoon?,'
Certainly not. -
'To-morrow, then?"
"No, indeed?'
"Ah, Miss Lotus. don t be so hard
What possible harm could there be in
your walking with me for half an hour?'
mo harm, but, as 1 said before, Lady
Gilmore would not like it,
"But / would like it. 1 want to be
friends with you; 1 feel almost as if we
were friends already
"Yet 1 have only spoken to you
once - said Nancy shyly.
"whst matter is that? know when
1 like people the first time l speak to
them, don 'tyou?"
Eyes, I think 1 do" answered
Nancy, still more slYly.
"Then don't tell me you hate me,
please. All, here are the tiresome brats
again!''
Dossy and Flossy now rejoiued them,
and Gilmore tried in vain TO shake them
off. Dossy related TO her brother how
their great-aunt had said such 'funny
things the afternoon before, that
"motner'' had sent them out Of the
room.
''I believe they were about you. Gil
more, - she added, raising her blue eyes
to his face. LIT was about your acct
dent she was talking, and she said she
had heard some woman had q finger in
the pie. -
A scarlet flush instantly rose to GIL
more's face.
''what follyl" he said, hastily and
angrily. "what fool that old woman
is, to be sure!"
"And she made mother as cross as two
sticks, continued Dossy; altogether,
we had bad time of il, and Miss LOTUS
was far better off. She went over the
conservatories when we were away, and
johnson the gardner gave her two of his
best roses.
Nancy could not help laughing at this,
and a moment later Gilmore laughed too.
But there was a frown on his brow still,
and after they reached tbs lake he parted
with them. But before he did so he had
a word to whisper to Nancy which the
sharp Dossy did not hear, as she was
taken up at this moment in watching
some waterfowl on one of the little
islands on the lake.
"Please come down TO the couserva-
tories Tomorrow at 4, - said Gilmore in
a low tone, al have something TO tell
you, - and the next moment, before
Nancy could reply, ne had taken of his
cap and left them.
.why has Gilmore gone aTay?' ask
ed Dossy looking round.
"He is tired. 1 suppose, answered
Nancy, and she stood thoughttuily for