Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14

81 am very glad. Some day hope
you will let me know him."
''He would think that great honor.
He said Maj. Erns seemed very kind
gentleman.''
eyes, said Nancy softly; "I have
known him long time-he has always
been very good 10 me-. ~
But their conversation was here inter-
rupted by loud rapping at the door.
81 have no doubt that is the child
rem. - said May, going to the door;
"they have been waiting most anxiously
to see you. You are great favorite OF
theirs. -
1t was Dossy and Flossy, who rushed
IN and kissed Nancy and Master Tommy
rapturously, who again resented the
liberties he was being subjected to.
''Let me nurse him, - said Dossy; but
Tommy firmly refused to leave his
mothers arms.
1--WE are so glad you have come
Nancy, " went on Dossy.
''Oh! so glad echoed Flossy.
Then they began to prattle on about
| the new baby, aud Miss Pennythorne,
| and Miss Clifford ;asking when they might
go again to Gateford, but strange TO tell
they never mentioned their poor mother.
1t seemed all so strange TO Nancy to be
here in such different circumstances to
those in which she had first entered this
house as governess TO these little girls.
And the present Lady Gilmore wss such
a contrast to the last! Still, the visit
! passed of more pleasantly than she had
hoped it would, and when she rose to go
| May asked her almost humbly TO come
again.
81 am very glad to know you," said
| J. 81 IL
cheek as she spoke, whose blue eyes in
stantly filled with tears.
/ "I--know l am not-like you, - she
faltered; "but-for poor Gerard s sake
will you come sometimes, for he was
| always so fond of you. -
Thus the sisters-in-law parted, and
| Nancy returned to Gateford greatly
pleased with poor May; but Miss Clifford
could not get over Master Tommy's loss.
"Just to think of poor delicate puny
brat like that stepping into Tommy's
| place, she said Grossly; land I've no
| doubt he 3 got humpback into the bar
| gain. -
81 don t think so, - answered Nancy.
If it had only been girl, II wouldn't
have mattered-but thank goodness 1t
may die.
"Oh! no no, Miss Clifford, do not say
that!'' cried Nancy with such sudden
emotion in her voice and manner that
the old Lady looked at her in surprise.
Whatever is the matter with you,
| child?'' she SAID. ITS natural, isn't
1t, that l SHOULD wish Tommy to be the
| head of the house when be is called after
my brother, who was the first Lord Gill
| more? Tommy will be rich man
whether he is Lord Gilmore or not, but
still that does not make up.''
Nancy made no reply to this, but that
| night as she knelt by her baby IS cot, she
prayed that the frail little child at
Wrothsley might live. And she went
again aud again to see the young mother
whose sweet simple nature had won her
own generous and kindly heart. And
one day, while she was at Wrothsley, she
and May encountered in the grounds a
grave, almost solemn-faced man, whom
May stopped.
"This is my father,'' she said, put
ting her hand afectionately on John
Summers arm.
Nancy at once held out her hand and
took the rough, toil-worn one in her
own.
Chow are you, MIR. Sumners?'' she
said in her most pleasant way. al have
just been to see your little grandson, and
have been telling his mother here how
much stronger he looks
81 thank ye kindly lady for being SO
good to May answered honest John
Summers. Gas for the babe, l think
he's thriving now
"Father's so fond of him - said May,
fand Daby IS so fond of father; he cries
to go to him.
John Summers looked gratified, and
toi
MAY tells me ye know him we'll; will
ye kindly gil him my respects when ye
see him, for he's kindly noble gentle
man..
''I will tell him, - said Nancy with q
smile and little blush; and she did tell
him that very day, for when she returned
to Gateford she found Maj. Erne sitting
with the old lady.
81 have a compliment to tell you,'
said Nancy smilingly, as she shook
hands with the grave-faced soldier.
"well, what is it2' answered Erne
with his grey eyes fixed upon her face.
Then she told him what John Sum-
ners had said, and dusky blush stole
over Erne's brown face as he listened.
That's a grand compliment, in
deed!n he said with smile. 81 shall
have to try to live up to It..
Miss Clifford, upon this, twice nodded
her ancient head.
SIT strikes me that you do" she re-
marked.
"You always have a kind word for
me, Miss Clifford, - said Erne, looking at
her.
"I've pretty clear sight, though I'm
not so young as l was, - she said, again
nodding her head. "well, Nancy. how's
the child ct Wrothsley to-day?'
''Oh, he looks so much stronger.
81 declare you just say that to ag-
gravate me! But be quick, now, and
dress for dinner, for it's just about the
time
Erne renamed for dinner that day at
Gateford, for whenever he arrived, Miss
Clifford used to insist on him staying,
though she herself usually dined in the
middle of the day; and after the meal
was over, the old lady having fallen into
o gentle doze, Erne and Nancy stood to-
gether IN one of the old-fashioned, deep
niched windows, looking out almost in
silence on the still garden beyond, over
which the yellow September moon was
SHINING down.
Presently Erne sighed restlessly.
"What is the matter?' asked Nancy
glanoing up at his grave face. care you
thinking of something sad?''