Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-14
JAIL RIGHTs Reserved
CHAPTER 1xxv.-A FRIEND IN NEED.

not the meaus to support wife, and he crusheo
back the feelings of his heart now when he
feared she lay stricken dead in his arms.
(Which is the neares t. Gateford or Wroths-
ey?'' he called out hoarseIy to the groom, who
had now succeeded in getting partial command
over the affri shted pony, and was endeavorlng
20 release it from the traces.
"Gateford, by six or seven mics. sir, an
swered the groom,
TO do that said Erne, still in that hoarse
changed voice. TELL Miss Clifford from me
what has happened, and ask her TO send car
rage at once here for Mrs. Clifford. Do not
waste moment; but first see after that poor
fellew in 'he carriage.
The groom having now freed the living pony
from the harness led it up to the back of the
carriage. where the dead man still sat. though
his head had fallen backward, and his haIf-o en-
sightless eyes seemed staring upwards at the
d3rkling sky.
The gloom put his hand on his wrist. looked
at him and shook his head.
''Hes done for, SIR he said, poor john
sons dead-dead as door nail. -
''Then nothing can avail him. leave him
where he is, and ride at once to Gateford and
give my message, and 1 viii remain here with
Mrs. G ford until you return with the carriage;
and ask Miss Clifford for some brandy to bling
back with you
~ hope the poor lady hesitated the
II cannot tell, said Erne sharply and
briefly in answer to ii o unspoken question,
$50 at once; do not delay moment now"
The groom obeyed An Immediately, and
leapSd the ba c.l of the nnsaddled pony and
started off at a gsllop for Gateford Manor
House, and Erne was left alone with Nancy and
the dead man.
Again he looked into her face, and something
like Groan broke from his firm lips Us he
pushed some burnt hair from her brow. Was
she dead? he asked him self. even as he tried to
scrt on her from the drwnpour of rain which
was turning the road into a river and soaking
everything they wore. He laid her head on his
breast and wrapped her cloak more closely
around her ana endeayored -, 10 shelter her with
his own coat. The storm still went raging on,
but Erne never needed it. storm was raging
in his own breast, darker and more terrible tn an
the thunder clouds. That she should be lying
thus-lying in his arms dead, or perhaps dying
the girl he had loved well, the woman
whom but day ago he had told himself he must
not love made him totally Indifferent to the wild
uproar of the elements.
Did something stir presently on his breast or
was it the strong throDbings of his own heart?
Ee moved back the cloak a little from her face
and saw 8 faint culver pass over il, and the
next moment she feebly raised her hand and
moved ii uncertainty.
'.Nancy, Won are quite safe. - said Erne with
unconscious tenderness and relief in his voice;
al have sent one of the grooms for a carriage to
Gateford, he will be here soon now, SO you must
not be afraid any more. -
She half-lifted her head, and put her hand to
her face, and n SILVER, shudder rather, ran
Are you cold?'' asked Erne, drawing the
cloak once more closely around her.
''Where-am I?'' came feebly now from
Here with me, Nancy-with Godfrey Erne-
and you win soon be at Gateford again.
She tried again to lift her head, and again put
her hand to her face, and an expression of great
fear stole over it.
''It is quite dark &" she half whispered, $50
dark / can see nothing
Then Erne glanced upwards at the sky.
mo- he said: it is clearing there over
toward the west: the storm will soon be over
now, and it is much lighter
~ can see nothing, l can see nothing
moaned Nancy. Unjust be blind -
THE lightning. perhaps, has hurt your
eyes" answered Erne with great earnestness
and kindness; but that will all come right;
shut them now and lean against me, and / will
try to keep the rain from you.'
And Nancy's head once more fell down il
she had not strength to hold it up and when
Erne laid his hand upon her wrist TO feel the
pulsstion it was feeble that every moment his
alarm increased He did not atteIipt TO speak
TO her any more, nor rouse her from the half
unconscious state into which she seemed 10 have
fallen. She moaned slightly once twice, but
gave no other sign OF life, and Erne's miserable
anxiety to be able to procure her some assistance
was terrible to endure.
Would the carriage never come? he asked
himself with almost uncomfortable Impotence.
An hour and more had passed since he had sent
the groom TO Gateford, and Erne knew W ell that
the hutterlng breath that he listened for so
eagerly at any moment might be stayed. At
last his strained heard distant sound OF
wheels, and few minutes later Miss GiHord's
old fashioned-f family coach appeared. the coach
man drawing up few yards from where Erne
stood, holding the half-unconscious Nancy In
his arms.
Then one of the ancient serving women from
Gsteford descended from the coach, anS the
groom Erne had Sent, the woman giving kind
of suppressed cry when her eyes fell on the dc al
Flush, - said Erne, s.ernly; miss Clifford
must be kept perfectly quiet. viii lift her into
the Carriage, and then you take of herwet cloak |
and boots, and rub her feet and hands with |
brandy il you have brought any,"
The old woman had brought brandy and |
strong essences, and by Erne's directions she |
first got back into the great roomy family coach.
and then Erne carried Nancy in his arms to the |
carriage door, and she lifted in partly by |
himself, and partly by the serving-womau.
The ancient handmaiden luckily had all her |
senses about her, and soon wrapped Nancy's |
abe had brought, and drew off her wet boots. |
Erne. who had also got into the coach, still held !
Nancy in his arms, and now began wetting her
lips with brandy and at last induced her to |
swallow a little OF the spirit.
This seemed slightly to revive her, for she |
lifted up her head and stretched o 1t her hands.
"Are you better now?'' asked Erne gently.
''l-feel so strange and cannot see,'' fai-
tered Nancy's weak voice.
THAT is the shock to your nerves, you
know explained Erne, with the deepest pity
in his heart; sit will pass away; aud you are
safely in Miss Chords carriage now, and we
sha ] drive quietly back to Gateford; and in q
storm IS almost gone now. -
, did he lightning strike me?'' asked Nancy's
scarcely audible tones.
1T struck the Carriage, but you are qnit.
safe now. and you must try TO swallow a little
more OF this to keep YOU warm, and Miss Gift
ford's maid here will stay beside you while
give some orders. -
He placed her on the seat Of the carriage as he
spoke, and bcde the old woman support her in
her arms. Then he went and gave some direc-
lions to the MIothsley groom concerning the
dead man and the dead pony, returning to
Nancy's side moment la.er, and holding her
up al the way during their return to Gateford. |
Miss Clifford was standing in the antique
porch they drew near the old house, anx-
Iously waiting their arrival. Something that
beat still in her withered breast, h ad smote her
when she realized that she had sent out u young
girl, and the handsome soldier who reminded
her of her youth, TO bear the brunt OF a terrible
,torai on the exposed highway, instead of be-
NJ ath the shelter OF her roof-tree. Then, when
the groom on the unsaddled pony galloped Up
10 the house door, ana told Of The disaster that
mad occurred-toid with a white, drenched,
scared face, that the lightning had killed one
nan, and that he feared NJ 8. Clifford was dead
slso-ths old woman who listened rembled and
grew pale, remembering her own seldshness.
She always went TO steep every afternoon, and
he wanted to sleep through the storm, and so
rad not cared 10 be troubled with visitors.
Thus she had let them 90 away; indeed had
given no hint about asking them 20 remain, and
ler heart reproached her with this now,
And with strange agitation aud fear she
watched him lift Nancy out of the carrioce, as
listed by her ancient maid. and caught a
glimpse Of the face that had been so lovely hut
ew hours before. Erne made her a sirn 10 sup
press any exclamation OF alarm, and Nancy was
IuicG.ly and quietly carr e to one of the bed
ooms, n a doctor Immediately sent for.
Miss Clifford tnen becEoned TO Erne TO come to
Ter, and grasped his hand in her own shaking I
- e1a .V.l. ~