Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-31

I dehCG.
} ''Oh, no, but still there are things to
: be seen about he answered, and the
! next morning he told her he was going
| to start.
/ "And you won 4 see your mother first,
then2"
, "'No. no, could not stand it-but for
her.
Here he abruptly broke off his sem
tence, and Nancy asked no more ques-
lions. Then when the hour for his de-
parture drew near, he told her TO bring
the boy TO his dressing-room, and when
she complied with his wish, he took the
child in his arms and kissed him ten
derby.
"Good-bye little fellow he said :,
and for a moment his bazsl eyes grew
dim; 'be good always to your mother
better Than your father has beeu?''
"But Hugh-Rugh, why do you speak
like thst-as If you were going away for
SO long?' said Nancy with agitation.
'Nonsense. l was only giving the
youngster good ADVICE he answered,
trying TO speak lightly, though his lips
Quivered. Well, Nancy, here is your
boy agaln--I need not tell you TO take
good care of him-and take good care of
YOURSELF
YES; but wish you would not go,
Hugh
He made no answer. but he stopped
down and kissed her twice.
''Poor little woman she heard him
muttter. al will write,'' he added,
and then he wrung her hand, looked for
| one moment III her face, and the next
had buried away; and two minutes later
was driven from the house.
And a great depression fell on Nancy's
heart after he was gone. His manner
had been so strange and the whole cir
oumstances connected with his brothers.
disappearance were SO mysterious, that |
Nancy dare not even to herself admit |
her secret dread. Mrs. LOTUS saw very
we'll that something was weighing heav- |
lily on her daughters mind, though she |
was too wise to try to force herself into |
her confidence.
No letter came from Hugh Clifford tor |
nearly week after his departure, and |
at the end of this time, Major Erne,
who vas still in town, one day again
called on Nancy, and once more no.
ticed how i'll and anxious she was look
ing.
"What message have 1 to carry to
Miss Gifford,'' he asked, smiling. "I
leave town the day after to- morrow, and
she will expect to hear some news of you
anu ueT lIttle Helr.
'You must tell her baby is very
WE'LL
land you?''
''Oh, ain fairly well too. -
;'You do not look so then; you must
forgive an old friend for saying this,
but really cannot give good account
of you"
'Perhaps want change, " said Nancy
uneasily.
"You want something am sure; why
not go to Miss Gifford's, rs l suggested
to you before?''
At this moment the footman brought
in letter, which had just arrived by
post. and as Nancy glanced at the ad-
dress, she saw that 1t was from Hugh
Clifford, and was the first letter she had
received since he went abroad.
''1his is from Mr.. Clifford, - she Rald;
''he Is away, you know.
al did not know,'' answered Erue, 8
rising restlessly: tbut don't mind me: ,
will look out of the window while you {
read your letter. q
He went to one OF the windows of the
room as he spoke, and stood there gazing I
vaguely out. Suddenly hs heard q sort
Of exclamation from Nancy, and turn 6
ing quickly round, saw her standing,
quite pale, and staring at the letter in
her hand as If she did not understand its /
meaning.
81 hope you have got no i'll newsP" L
ne said. r
'I-I-do not know-I caunat under
tand, - she faltered out. q
He crossed the room and went up to
Ter, and as he did this the letter flut- v
cred from Fancy's neryeless hand and b
ell upon the floor. and Erne stopped Ii
lown and lifted it up.
'What Is the matter?h he said I
,indly, as he laid the letter on a table
lear. "
'I-I-cannot tell. - said Nancy In a
roken voice, land yet, OIL Godfrey e
on are an old friend-tell me what [ d
must do?' N
She put out her hand as if appealing II
Or help, and Godfrey Erne took it. al
If can help you In anyway" he ell
aid, earnestly, "please let me do 500 81
''It is ON Hugh-my husband-to
I'll me, that he has left me- went on
oor Nancy still in q broken voice - to l.
I'll me that he has gone.'' -
what! Do you mean for good?"
Yes, that is what he says-that he hi
ill never come back - ia
Impossible! Surely you are mis- NJ
AIKEN. Had you any quarrel2' ov
No, uoHe, nonej IL Is not that.
Again she put her trembling hand out as
" the letter, aud re-read it, and then ri
ave it to Godfrey Erne.
you can read it and tell me what to
1u think, she said. wi
Then Erne read the letter, and his sh
zee grew very stern as he did 30, and its
S gray eyes flashed. 1t was as follows
a strange letter indeed to be penned by I,o
young husband to young wife, and tel
hom be had parted from SO latsly with an
tender kiss: tn
Nancy. For no more can 1 write ha
Nancy, since this letter must end our
lef married life-aud heneeforth we ms
ust be as strangers. l write this with VIC
IN, because shrink from giving you MI
I'm, and because you have deserved
thing but good from my hands. But on
never should have married. Years
fore saw you, L was bound by honor vol
another woman; to q woman who had ke
criiced much for my sake, and only
Ved me too well. To this woman / ella
We now returned, and from this step vel
ere is no going back. For yourself / be:
We arranged that you shall be amply
divided for, with an allowance also for wa
3 rearing of the boy, as do NOT ohooea | Ar