Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-24

educated, who, through the sad and
sudden death of her father, is compelled
to do something for her living.
edo you know her? Is she friend of
yOurs?' asked Lady Gilmore, with in
terest.
81 know her well; have known her
since she was a child; and her father
Colonel Lotus, was a great friend of
my husbands, and was killed, poor
man, quite lately, while out pig-stick-
ing in India, and l am sorry to say has
left his wife and family in very poor cir
cunstances. But this girl, Nancy, who
is nice looking, lady-like girl, is most
anxious to do something to assist her
mother; and as you happen to be with
out governess 1 wish you would try
her. -
"She is a friend of yours, that is
enough, - said Lady Gilmore, with a
sudden gush of impulsive gratitude, ris-
ing and clasping Lady Blenkensop s
hand. edo you think 1 forget what
you did for my boy? But for you-oh,
dare, dare not talk Of it-engage this
young lady, of course, if you wish it,
and give her whatever salary you think
proper; leave it entirely in your hands,
and thank you very much for thinking
about the poor children.
'Would you think $500 year too
much?'' asked Lady Blenkensop, who
was prompt and practical, and knew
that Lady Gilmore was very rich.
"Certainly not; more if you like-but
hush-did Gilmore speak them" And
as she spoke Lady Gilmore stole quietly
across the room, and went to the open
bedroom door in an attitude of intent
attention.
She stood listening thus for few mo-
ments, and then, with silent gesture of
excuse to Lady Blenkensop, entered her
son g room, and Lady Blenkensop, af-
ter one or two minutes consideration
thought herself justified in writing to
town to engage Nancy LOTUS to be gov
erness to the honorable Misses Gilmore.
She was very pleased TO do this; pleased
because she had arranged the matter,
she believed, very cleverly, and because
her kind heart rejoiced to be able thus
to assist the daughter of her old friends.
''She ought to allow seventy-five
pounds year to her MOTHER she de-
cided before she penned her epistle to
Nancy; twenty-five is ample for the
dress OF girl of her age. L shall give
her q hint what she ought to do with her
money!
And she gave Nancy this "hint'' IN
her usual pronounced and open way.
She wrote to her from Wrothsley the
same evening that she had spoken to
Lady Gilmore, and told her how she
happened to be staying at the castle, de-
scribing, as she had done to her hus-
band, her own good services to the
wounded lord Then she came to the
pitch of her letter.
"They saw, however, - she wrote,
"that good very often springs from
evil, and in that case it has certainly
done so. The assistance 1 was fortu-
nately able to render Lord Gilmore, has
won for me the extreme gratitude of his
mother, who is devoted to him, and 1
have availed myself of this feeling to
procure most excellent situation for
you. On my recommendation alone
Lady Gilmore has agreed to engage you
as governess to her two little girls, at
the very handsome salary of one hun
dred year. l am very pleased about
this arrangement, dear Nancy, because
out of this sum you will be able mater
tally to assist your mother; as five-and-
twenty pounds year will be ample for
your own personal expenses here, 1
wish you, therefore, to come to Wroths-
ley at once-shall we settle to-day
week.-Mrs. 1 shall then still be here to
receive you, and induct you into your
new duties. To prevent any worries or
expenses to your mother about your
dress or train fares, 1 enclose a cheque
for twenty pounds, which I hope you
will accept from your old friend, with
her best love. 1 am very glad indeed to
have been able to do so well for you, as
l had q great respect and regard for
your dear father, and the tone of your
letter also pleased me, and 1 feel sure
you will do credit to my recommends
ton. With love to you mother, 1 re-
main sincerely yours,
MARGARET BLENKENSoP. -
This letter, indited in Lady Blenken-
sop's firm, clear handwriting, duly ar
rived at the little house in the north
western suburb, where poor Mrs. Lotus
and her children were still drinking the
bitter CUP of sorrow. More than a week
had elapsed since Nancy had written to
Lady Blenkensop about procuring q sit
uation for her, and Nancy had begun to
think that her father and mothers
friend had perhaps rued of the offer she
had made to endeavor to do so. There
fore Lady Blenkensop's letter was well
come, for Nancy saw very plainly that
she could not afford to live at home
This fact had been pointed out to her,
also by her late father s only sister, Mrs.
Barclay, or "Aunt Fanny as this
ady was very generally called in the
small household. Mrs. Barclay was the
widow of a naval officer, and had been
abroad at the time when the news of
Colonel LOTUS sudden and. untimely
Heath reached England. 1t was a shook
to her, and disturbed her so much that
the broke through the easy tenor of her
life sufficiently to return to
london and oondole with her brothers.
broken hearted widow.
But though she felt very sorry for the |
woman and her fathsrless chill |
lren, knowing well the pinohed oircum-
stances they must be left IN, she had no |
dea of sparing any Of her own small but |
comfortable income for their benefit.
81 have Just enough to live on, you |
Know, Lucy, so 1 can do nothing for the !
" she told Mrs. LOTUS; ''and |
he best thing Nancy can do is to find q
ituation, and am very glad to hear
hat she is trying to do so.
Poor Mrs. LOTUS WINGED terribly at |
his advice regarding Nancy's future. |
Her handsome Nancy, of whom her |
lear father had been so proud she |
hOupht sorroUfulIv She had aaoratly