Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-07

How should know any thing of her? | hope
nothing has happe9ed to my old friend, MAY!
loudly, striking his hand heavily on one OF the
inlaid tables near him. 1.-The girl has dlsap-
night and the darkness, the Lord Himself only
knows where to. Had you aught to do with this,
Gerard Brewster? The folks down there say ye
had, and if so. We shall ha' to answer for any
wrong We have done the girl to me?''
II have done her no wrong; | swear nave
NOT said Gilmore. why should Mays dis
appearance be laid to my charger am very
sorry you are in such trouble, Mr.. Summers,
and l most earnestly hope May is all right, and
I've no doubt she is.
How can We ha' no doubt?'' retorted Sum-
ners, fercely. ~ tell We the girl is gone, and
ifye ha' no doubt she's right and we'll, it seems
to me We must ken where TO find her. Where is
my lass, Gerard Brewster Tell me, or ! shall
strike We dead!'
For moment Gilmore's face paled. but the
next he answered the old mans furious words
quite calmly.
This is really most extraordinary and un-
reasonable conduct, Mr.. Sumrers, he said,
you tell me your daughter has disappeared
from her home, but why should be connected
with her disappearance is more than can con-
ceive.'
ners, snllenly; I'VE and the girl were sweet
hearts, !oiks said, and maybe now when we've
got grand name, ye thought she wasn't good
enough to be yer wife, but only yer hght-o'-
This is folly" said Gilmore, impatiently,
but his face flushed.
:'FoIIy it may be to We, but life and death to
me, - retorted John Summers, his brown face,
too, flushing darby with the strong emotion of
his heat. ''She was all l had-the motherless
lass, that made the bit of sunshine of my home.
If ye have wronged her, my curse will follow ye,
and ven come to black and bloody end. Z"
Really. Mr.. Summers
"Aye, and dye think because We now set up
for grand gentleman, and am but a poor Ia
boring common man, that ha' ma right TO look
after my child guide name! Look here, Gerard
Brewster II We ken wht re the lass is, and il We
wull wed her rightly. II swear IN never come
O. yer wifes father, for III never set eyes on her
again. And I've saved a bit of money-a good
bit-and it shall be all hers, and she shall not
want for naughL. That's not an offer I'd make
TO many, but the poor lass liked ye, and its y
base unmsnly thing to do her wrong
For moment Gilmore hesitated as he listen
ed TO these words, but before he could speak,
rap came to the room door, and the next instant
it opened and young mans head appeared.
''Ah, Gilmore!" said the new conner, Il saw
your cab. and they said you were in, so thought
I'd look you up-but l hope am not in the
way?' he added, as his eyes fell on John Sum-
mers' rugged. weather beaten face.
mot in the least answered Gilmore with
alacrity and feeling of relief Come in Whit
more, ana have a brandy and soda, and perhaps
Mr.. Somners here will join us?'
But John Summers shook his head.
''Will We think over what I have said?'' he
asked, once more addressing Gilmore.
Ger tainly, but fear can be OF no use to
you'll am sorry have no information to give
you. - answered Gilmore, but again John no.
ticed he did not look him in the face.
I'm find out if thou hast, anyhow" he said
gloomily, and then without another word John
Summer strobe away with his heavy tread, and
the two young men were alone.
NV dear fellow, y said Mr.. Whitmore, who
was good looking, Jmpecunious young gentle
man, who had talent for discovering those
whom tickle fortune favored, and had picked up
Gilmore's acquaintance since he had come into
the title, ana his roms ntic story known;
''h it is not an impairment question, may 1
ask who the marlne-looking gentleman is who
lies an old fellow I used to know in the
country answered Gilmore, with an uneasy
laugh. IAN the same,' he added when you
come to us down the river you need not mention
that you saw him here
Mr. Whitmore moulded his head twice. ;
II understand" he said; ''paterfamilias,
supDose?'
Again Gilmore gave that uneasy laugh, and
presently the young men went out together, and
as they got into the cab outside " hitmore had
word to whisper into Gilmore's
''Tuere is paterfamilies again, he said. 81
say my dear fellow, he's following us; You had
best take care where you CO..
And all that day John Summers watched the
house he had seen Gilmore enter and leave, and
all the next, but he never saw him. At last he
grew weary and rang the bell and inquired for
Lord Gilmore, but was told he was out of
town.
''when did he go?'' asked John hoarsely.
''Where has he gone!''
The man-servant belonging to the establish
ment replied civilly enough.
His lord ship left yesterday but cannot tell
you where he went; abroad, l suppose, most of
'em go abroad at this time OF YEAR
u
He knows where the poor lass is hidden
away" he thought savagely; may the Lord
reward MIN according to his DUE
he stayed a few days longer in town. and
then, dis heartened and weary, he went awaF,
and returned to Ssarley as silently as he had
left, sternly refusing to make any explana ton
OF his long absence.
81 went on my own business, AMI no one has
aught TO do with it, he said; and his neigh
burs understood that he had gone to seek his
daughter, and that his search had been in vain.
CHAPTER xxxTv.-hIss GIFFoRD's WARNING.
The summer had faded into autumn, and
golden hues stole over the leaves of The great
trees i n Wrothsley PARK, and the days grew
shorter and shorter, and the air sharper and
sharper, and in the fields the yellow stubbIe
told of the garnered grain. beautiful season
this full of strange sweetness of its own,
ripe fullness, in which touch Of sadness rim
giles, as the breeze stirs the brown waving
grasses. or whispers through the fading ferns.
beIu iful season-s beautiful day-and yet a
young wIfe's heart was sad within her as she
paced alone along the green glades of Wroths-
lev. or looked wistfully up at the bright blue
sky. Not yet married year, Nancy still knew
that her husbands heart was changed to her,
apd that an abiding shadow had come between
their lives.
Hugh clifford was in Scotland and vet he hsd
not asked Nancy to accompany him there. He
had been down to Wrothsley once twice as
the summer waned, taking very good care to
find cut first that his elder brother out of
the way. In fact the brothers had never spoken
to each other since the unfortunate quarrel
when the elder had flung the wine glass at the
younger's face, and but for tho sake of his
mother. Hugh would not again have entered the
house which SO bitterly reminded him Of the
past.
The new Lord Gilmore also did not go much
to Wrothsley now. He had bought a place down
the Thames, and had steam yacht, and enter
tanned good deal of somewhat dubious CON-
pany, aud drank good deal also, it was said.
He was, however, always most Kind and friendly
TO Nancy, and seldom came TO Wrothsley with
out brin Ting her some present other, and he
was also very good to his mother.
But Lady Gilmore who was better now, and
able TO move little about the house, saw only
too plainly, that the folly of her youth had sown
bitter emnity between her sons. They never
spoke of this to her. and she never spoke of it,
but it lay like black cloud over her heart, ever
darby fore shadowing some coming ill.
Thus 1t was not bright household in which
Nancy spent the summer and autumn days.
Lady Gilmore declined to receive any company,
and Nancy's only acquaintance in the neigh
borhood were Lady Blenkensop and old Miss
Clifford, at Gateford Manor House. Maj. EYne
had now accepted an appointment for two years
on Gen Sir Charles Blenkensop's staff and
Nancy was always glad to meet her old friend
when she went TO visit LAZY Blenkensop. But
for days and even weeks together she saw no
one but Lady Gilmore. the children. and their
governess. Miss Pennythorne. She used to walk
out often with Miss Pennythorne, but this poor
lady s sorrowful experiences of life made her
but Ii sad companion to young creature like
Nancy, who was naturally OF a lively and even
Joyous nature.
With laneuid steps, therefore, and an OPP
bright September day, thinking vaguely of
nd aioniD flv eba