Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-15

.,,ber's heightened interview with the
-,ie,t It was his ordinary dinner hour
n, one thing, and he was blessed with a
h.otbful appetite, and for another
l.osmiDgly by the strange laws of here
,,.-, he alike lacked faith and reverence.
..He is his fathers very son, >" how
.,,sn had Mrs. Brewster thought, as she
r,,sned to his careless words and looked
IN his handsome face. He had, too, a
nv nlessure-lovlng disposition, and a
attain amount of personal vanity {,
,,icb in his case was somewhat re-
rr.rkable; the late Lord Gilmore also
ho,ina been not little proud of his
own good looks.
He therefore soon grew tired of wait
ing for Father Hayward to take his de-
norture and felt no scruple about going
into the dining room, in the hope of
hnrrfnr him away. But no sooner did
he enter the room than he saw some
thing very unusual had occurred.
his mother was sitting with olasped
hands. looking pale-almost TigiG-with
on intensity of expression on her color
Ices face that he had never seen there be-
tore. while in front of her stood the
father; with appraised hand, pouring out
yrords of admonition and warning.
Gerard glanced from one to the other
IN surprise, and as he did so, after a
moments thought, Father Hayward adj
dressed him.
,tYou have entered on a strange
soane - he said, ''for l came here on a
strange purpose, and 1 trust you will
NOW add your entreaties to induce this
woman, whom all your life you have be-
neved to be your mother, now TO speak
the truth. -
i'Idon t understand what you mean,
answered Gerard sharply, and his face
flushed: "this is my mother, and
don't like to hear her spoken of in that
way
As Gerald said this he went up and
nut his hand on Mrs. Brewster s shoul-
der, who, suddenly, as she received this
TOKEN of affection, burst into a passion
Of tears.
"I'm the only mother he ever had,
she sobbed; 1.-the only one who ever
loved him.
''My son, she is not your mother. -
said the priest solemnly. tYour mother
is Lady Gilmore of wrothsley, of whom
you may have heard, d this woman
was your nurse, and she and your real
mother in your infancy schemed together
to rob you of your just birthright. -
LADY Gilmore. of Wrothsley, re-
peated Gerard in the utmost surprise.
ayes, you are the late Lord Gilmore s
eldest son.
Gerard looked at Mrs. Brewster, who
had now covered her face with her hands
and was sobbiug aloud, and then at
Father Hayward.
~ cannot understand it, - he said;
'ff this be true, what possible motive
could Lady Gilmore have!
"a vain and foolish one, - answered
Father Hayward; Fyou were born with
personal defect-a defect of the spine
and your father was angry that his heir
should bear this birthmark, and taunteu
your mother with it in his injustice. And
10 keep his affection, as she supposed,
she hid you away and pretended to her
husband you were dead, and your second
brother, Hugh, who was well formed
and handsome, was brought up as the
heir, while you were reared by Mrs.
Brewster, your nurse.
Every word of this speech stung &C.
rard s vain heart to the quick. His face
flushed and his hands trembled, and he
drew himself up III mute protest against
the reflection cast upon his form.
"You have outgrown it, my dear, -
Wept Mrs. Brewster, who understood him,
"there is little OF nothing the matter
with you now.
"Ihen-is all this true?' asked
Gerard slowly, after moments pause.
"Is-Lady Gilmore really my mother?'
Once more Mrs. Brewster hesitated.
''My daughter, you have virtually ad-
mitted the truth of my statement, said
Father Hayward
eli it is true you had better say so,
said Gerard; "and all can say if it is,
It was n disgraceful thing.
Gerard! It was your mOther!h cried
Mrs. Brewster, unable to bear this re-
preach, and starting to her feet. ~ did
not want her to do i'll prayed and
begged her not. Yes, it is true, - she
went on passionately, flinging herself on
her knees before him, and Selling one of
his hauds. You were q weak and sick
" babe, and my lord was angry because
the younger boy was strong, and he was
hard and cruel about it TO my lady, aud
they had a bitter quarrel, and my lady
took you and me away with her to the
house in London, and when we were
there. she persuaded me to help deceive
my lord, and tell him you had died of
iever,''
cit was disgraceful!' cried Gerard
roughly, trying to pull away his hand,
out the poor woman chung to it.
Il have nursed you and watched over
you for twenty years, ~ she wept.
@ But for me You would never been what
you are now-strong and well-Oh, for
give me, Gerard"
He had kind, if vain heart, and
alter moment s hesitation he put his
other hand on her gray head.
Well, it can't be helped now, he
said. Come, get up. 1 don Z like TO
see You kneeling there. -
Then will you forgive mei" she
asked humbly.
II seems to me that my other moth
er, not you, was the one to blame. But
why has she changed her mind, sir?''
ne added, turning round TO Father Hay
ward, after he had raised Mrs. Brewster
up. ''WhY does she want TO acknowl-
edge me now If she was ashamed of me
before, though don't see that she had
any reason, certainly. -
Ny son, great grief and trouble has
come to her " answered the good
Iather; 1.-the son she preferred before
you, and of whom she made an earthly
laol, after leading E discreditable life,
narrsed against her will, and when she
learnt this it seemed to her that the very