Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-18

al do not believe 1t is law business,
she kept thinking; but she said nothing
more about Gilmors's absence, for she
was q young woman who knew when &c
speak and when TO be silent.
And the same day visitor arrived al
Wrothsley who served to change the cur
rent of her thoughts. This was Sir John
Cakes, who had been laid up with an
accident on the hunting field since he
was last at Wrothsley, and now appeared
looking pals and Ill. He inquired for
Gilmore, but hearing he had started in
the morning for town, he asked If he
could see Lady Gilmore, and was thus
ushsred into that lady's presence and
Miss Buffers.
He was SO nervous and agitated, that
Lady Gilmore could not understand what
was the matter with him, and answered
SO vaguely and wide of the mark to Miss
Buffers lively speeches that she set him
down in her mind as little better than q
fool. Suddenly however, with q deep
blush rising on his homely, but not un-
pleasing features, Sir John blurted out
the reason of his visit.
Ill suppose, he said, "that you
have Miss LOTUS With you still2"
"Miss Loftus?' repeated Lady Gill
the children IS governess?'
Yes" answered Sir John, turning
scarlet to the roots of his light, tawnY
hair. "I-I-met her at Sir Charles
Blenkensop'S' you know hope sne is
very wsll?'
81 believe she is quite well,'' said
Lady Gilmore, haughtily and repres-
sively.
Sir John was silent for moment, and
looked irresolute; then, with q great ef-
fort he spoke again:
"I-should like to see her, Lady Gill
more-with your permission may 1 see
her?''
Lady Gilmore regarded him with abso-
lutte establishment.
"See her? l do not understand. Have
you any business with her, any oommu-
nications to make from Lady Blenken-
sop?"
81 admire her very much,' answered
Sir John sturdily, now gaining courage,
for he had called with settled purpose
in his mind, "and L should like to see
her if you will allow me?"
Lady Gilmore's sallow complexion
flushed, and she slightly shrugged her
shoulders.
'You must forgive me when tell you
[ never heard of such thing, - she said
coldly. Visit the childreu's goYerness!
impossible, l cannot allow it," ..
'But why, Lady Gilmore?'' -
"Why?" repeated Lady Gilmore hast
lily. "Your own sense ought to tell you
why, Sir John!''
81 cannot see it," he answered quiz
city, "you must be quite sure l should
not have asked you this favor unless
had regarded Miss Lotus as my equal
which she is-and with the greatest ad-
miration and respect.
Again Lady Gilmore slightly shrugged
her shoulders.
"We need not discuss the question -
she said, sit is impossible that you can
see Miss Lotus under this roof, if you
wish to do SO, you must see her when she
is under Lady Blenkensop's protection
not mine. -
Sir John bowed angrily and coldly,
and q few moments later he took his
leave, and the two ladies looked at each
other as the door closed behind him.
Ibid you ever hear of a man making
such an extraordinary request?n asked
Lady Gilmore.
Miss Butler raised her pretty dark eye
orowS before she made any reply.
"You are very courageous, she said,
'to keep such an attractive goyerness in
the house,
~ never regarded her as very attrac-
tlYe, answered Lady Gilmore hastily.
81 have scarcely looked at her. Lady
Blenkensop brought her here you know
when Gilmore was very i'll, and 1 have
always thought her quiet sort of girl.
''Yet that young man is evidently in
love with her, - continued Miss Butler
with cold, hard smile. al am really
quite anxious to see such paragon-let
us pay visit to the schoolroom, Lady
Gilmore-perhaps we shall find Sir John
Cakes with the governess in spite of your
refusal.
Impossible" cried Lody Gilmore,
starting to her feet. 'He dare not-but
we can go and see. -
And they actually did go; but when
they reached the schoolroom, which
Lady Gilmore entered with imperious
haste, they found very quiet and ap-
parently peaceful scene. Nancy was
sitting reading near the shaded lamp on
the table, and the children were playing
at building church with mimic bricks.
Lady Gilmore felt half ashamed of her
suspicious as she looked at them, and
made kind of apology to Nancy.
81 have brought Miss Butler to see
your schoolroom Miss Loftus,'' she said.
Nancy rose and bowed, and Miss But
Ter looked at her critically-looked at the
pretty features, the blooming complex
ion, the slender, yet shapely form.
"She has lovely face, - she thought;
''it is madness for Lady Gilmore to have
her in the house. -
But she crossed the room and talked
very affably to Nancy and the children,
and presently took up the book that
Nancy had been reading. and as she did
so, she saw with her quick eyes a half
expression pass over Nancy's
face.
"You are reading this?'' she said,
carelessly. ''Do you like it?''
81 have scarcely got into it yet, - an
swered Nancy; and as she spoke Miss
Butler turned to the fly leaf, on which,
in moment, she perceived inscribed the
single word, "Gilmore. -
But she made no remark; she laid the
book quietly down, and no one looking
at her could have guessed that at this
Instant new suspicion had entered into
her heart.
CHAPTER INSTRUMENTATION.
Miss Butler said nothing to Lady Gill
more, after they had quilted the school
'oom together, of having seen her sons
name in the book Miss Lotus was read
ng; nor did she hint at the suspicious