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


companion; you won't be dull any
longer, Lord Gilmore.''
''Oh, won't Il know who 1 should
rather talk to one half-hour than to Miss
Kate Butler all day -
al am quite curious to see this young
lady-is she tall or is she little?''
''Tsll and straight as a river reed +,
she wants a certain softness, to my
mind-a grace, a charm that some people
possess. -
"And when is she coming?"
Every soon, believe; in a day or
two, think, but hope she will not
stay long. ,;
"You may change your mind on that
subject. :"
81 don't think shall, the very idea
bores me-may come and talk to you
sometimes when she is here?''
'No, 1 am sure you may not, you will
not want to talk to me then.
''But will indeed-if you knew how
1 think of no one else
"Lord Gilmore, you must not talk
thus. -
"Forgive me, but you don't seem to
believe me; you do not seem to under
stand how much l am in earnest.
"About what?'' smiled Nancy little
sauoily.
"About my great admiration for you,
my eager desire to see more of you.
"But we really cannot see each other
Lord Gilmore; II told you why, you
know
eyes, I know you did, but I cannot
give it up. -
Nancy was silent for a moment, and
then she turned her charming face and
looked at him with her soft, shining dark
eyes.
81 told you our sad little story, did 1
notP" she said. Chow my dear father
was killed in a moment, and my
mother left very, very poor-so poor, -
added Nancy with emotion, "that you,
who are rich, cannot understand it-and
Lady Blenkensop, who is an old friend of
ours, got me this situation here, so that
1 might be able to assist my mother-and
-snd-I must not risk my mother g
bread. -
'Gilmore was moved; moved by the
girls beauty; and by her sweet voice, and
the unconscious pathos of her words.
"You make me feel almost q brute!"
he said impetuously, ga selfish brute
and yet
al do not wish to make you feel that,
for am sure you are not selfish, but you
see l am obliged to think of these
things
"But it seems SO hard-a young girl
like you.''
"But a young girl who has gone
through lot of trouble, - said Nancy
with rather a sad smile. 81 told you
how strange it all seemed to me when 1
first came here, and when l was at Lady
Blenkensop's, just because Sir John
Cakes talked to me a little, Lady
Blenkensop gave me quite lecture, aud
told me it would never do for me now,
to speak to young men,
TLady Blenkensop is an old fool, beg
ging her pardon and yours for calling her
SOTO talk such nonsence. Does she
think she can make young men blind,
and expect them not to admire q lovely
face when they see one? But I shall do
everything you tell mel shall never
weary nor worry You-if you will tell me
one thing?''
land what is that?''
elf you were not here as a children 8
governess, would you have cared to talk
to me sometimes?''
s'That is hardly fair question. -
''Yet 1 should like you to answer it. -
"You mean if L were here as your
mothers guest, like the young lady who
is coming?"
eyes, in that case, would you have
cared to talk to me?''
al think l should - answered Nancy,
modestly, and sweetly, and with such
charming blush and smile, that Gilmore
was completely enraptured.
81 am so glad so happy, 'hs said eager
". NOW shall feel do not bore you
by trying to see you, and shall no for
get what you have told me about your
family circumstances, and I shall never
expose you to any annoyance-you can
quite trust mel"
"'I believe CAM
Thus these young people came to an
in the fast gathering
gloom of the winter afternoon, and as
they walked up and down the long cor
rider together, poor Nancy almost forgot
all Lady Blenkensop's warning words.
AS for Gilmore he felt happy and excited
to no ordinary degree. This beautiful
girl was not quite Indifferent to him then,
he was thinking, and the thought was
very pleasant TO him.
They talked after this of books, of
theatres, of picture galleries, but the
subjects did not seem
nor the time long as the
duskY shadows stole around them.
"Have you any decent books to
read?' asked Gilmore suddenly.
al nave the school books" answered
Nancy, smiling, "and l study grammar
lest Miss Dossy should ask me any ques-
tons should feel unable to answer"
"what a shamel L have heaps of
novels lying about since my illness;
must lend you some.
SIT will really be 8 great treat to
me.
81 am so pleased thought of it. Shall
1 go and fetch you some now? Do you
see that door there, Miss LOTUS, at the
end Of the corridor7''
tYes, see it,
"That leads TO staircase which opens
into my part of the house; the door is
always kept locked though, but luckily 1
found the key, therefore can bring
books or flowers, or anything to you
without anyone else being the wiser"
"But-" demurred Nancy, as this
proposal seemed rather alarming.
''It viii be such pleasure 10 me-
urged Gilmore, and Nancy was not
strong minded enough TO refuse.
They parted with the agreement that
he was to bring her some books on the
following afternoon. and that she was to