Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-22


"what sort of fellow is my brother?''
asked Gerard, delighted with the but
ler's remarks.
HE'S q very pleasant, free handed
young gentleman and good-looking also J.,
but does not take after his father as
much as you do, my lord; in fact, ii g
just wonderful.
So Gerard went to bed excited and
gratifed, and for long time could not
sleep amid his unfamiliar surroundings.
And when he awoke in the morning he
could not at first tell where he was. He
sat up, rubbed his eyes, and then 1t all
came back to him. He was Lord Gill
more; all this splendor was his, and the
butler had said he was like his handsome
father, and Gerard g vain heart loved TO
think this.
He got up and looked out of the win
dow; looked on the wide spreading park
with its green slopes and groups of
stately trees, below, which the deer
browsed in the sheltered glades. He
could see too what great house it was
with its marble terraces and fountains,
and in the far vista a CLEAN of the shin
ing waters of the lake. Wrothsley was
looking beautiful the sweet springtime
with its fresh-op led leaves and BIOS
SONS, beneath blue white licked sky,
aud a bright shining m Ening sun. But
its splendors half-frightened Gerard.
He had never been in such place be-
fore, aud it filled him with vague sense
of his own infeiority somehow. He turned
away from the window with half sigh,
and then began to dress himself in his
very best.
Poor Gerard! The brown, country
made velveteen coat, the white waist
coat, and bright red necktie, might seem
very attractive in the eyes of rustic
maidens like May Summers. but they
looked sadly out of place beneath these
decorated ceilings. And so Graham the
butler thought, when he beheld his
young lordship in this gay attire.
"He ain fit for it, - reflected this
sagacious man, "but my lady has no one
but herself to thank for his countritied
appearance, and good valet will soon
polish him up bit.
But we may be sure he gave no hint of
his private thoughts to Gerard. Father
Hayward started for town Immediately
after breakfast for the purpose of seeing
the family lawyer (who had been pres
eut when the little empty coffin was
opened in the VAULT, to take his advice
regarding Gerard assuming the title,
and to consult counsel on the point, and
also on the best mode of communicating
his mother confession and deposition to
Hugh Clifford, now called Lord Gilmore.
Father Haywood carried with him also
the whole correspondence which had
taken place during the twenty-four
years of Gerard's life, between Lady
Gilmore and Mrs. Brewster, regarding
his health and rearing, and the money
which had been expended on his behalf.
Both Lady Gilmore and Mrs. Brewster
had, strange to say, preserved all these
and Lady Gilmore held the re-
ceipt for the large sum of money she had
advanced for Gerard to stock and take
his farm, and which had also passed
through Mrs. Brewster's hands. The
lawyers naturally deemed these papers
to be of the greatest Importance in the
case, supposing 1t went 10 trial, as they
considered that without doubt they fully
established Gerard IS claim TO be the late
Lord Gimore's eldest son, and con-
firmed the depositlons by Lady Gilmore
and Mrs Brewster regarding the decep-
ton they had practiced on the late lord.
Thus, after Father Hayward left
Wrothsley, Gerard found it SO lonely he
W
and Graham showed him over the great
house, opening with no small pride the
doors of the state apartments, pointing
out in the large drawing-room the walls
hung with light blue satin damask,
worked with silver gray figures, the
frleze above being white and gold. There
was everything here that wealth could
purchase, the floors of all the principal
rooms being of oak, with wide parquet-
rie borders, ana one room was pam sled
with richly carved frames filled with
splendid specimens of Aubuseen tapes
try.
But the great boast and PRIDE of the
house were the pictures, and Graham
acted as Snowman of these too.
"'That 'ead of an old woman is a Rem
brandt, my lord, he went on pouring
out picture after picture to Gerard s as
.onished gaze, "and yon landscape with
orses is Gerard Dow. We have a Ru-
Dens too-very fine, that his late lord
ship, your lordship's father, set great
store on. And we have Holbeins, and |
reniers, and in fact all the best of 'em.
When the family is away crowds of peo-
Die come here to see the pictures, and 1 |
believe there is no better collection in |
England. May ask If your lordship is
'ond of 'arts''
"Dont't know much about it - an |
iwered Gerard with blush, at the idea |
If his own ignorance.
"It's taste that grows, continued |
he butler re1ectively, "snd as his late
ordship was great art eonnoiseur, 1 |
lave no doubt your lordship will inherit |
t, the same as you have done the feat |
Tres of his face. This is q portrait of |
lis late lordship, and you'll excuse me |
aging SO, but it might pass az your lord |
hip s picture, except being older. -
So Gerard stood and looked at his |
ather's pictured face, and told himself |
hat he was indeed his son. They had |
he same features, the same bright smil-
ng reckless eyes. and crisp brown curl
ng hair. Only that hapless birthrisht |
which had marred Gerard's life made
he difference, and frown passed over
lis face as this thought crossed his mind. |
81 think l am tired of looking at the |
pictures, - he said turning away O little
mpatiently, and the polite butler in
family took the hint.
Perhaps your lordship would like
little refreshment?' he said. 60 IT'S
'ery fatiguing standing about.
81 think I'd like q drink - replied
ierard, and having expressed his prefer
nee for champagne, so as to impress the
,utler with the idea that 1t was a bev-
rage he partook of every day, Graham |
made haste to put before him some OF +
he very finest wine the cellars con-