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

1uhl Is true.
"And the worst OF 1t, too, for no doubt
this poor lad Gerard was not I'll to be
Lord Gilmore could just shake that
stupid woman at Wrothsley when think
OF all the michief she has done, and the
trouble she has brought about by her
folly and pride. For it was nothing
else. II Nancy LOTUS had been n
duke's daughter instead of a goveruess,
we should never have heard a word
about the hunchback, who was supposed
to be dead and in his coffin twenty five
years ago.,
The priest said nothing more; he saw =,
in fact, it was useless 10 try to pursuade
Miss Clifford TO try to break the terrible
news of her eldest son $ death to Lady
Gilmore. and with a very sorrowful heart
he returned to WrOthsleY, feeling that
this painful duty had now deyolved on
himself
He usked to see Lady Gilmore, and
found her in state of considerable ex-
element.
"What is the matter, Father Hay
ward! she said quickly, as the priest
entered ths room. The children have
just been here, and Dolly tells me the
servants are whispering together, aud
won t answer their questions; and when
sent for Mrs. Brewster q message was
Drought to me that she was too i'll TO see
me. Does-dOes this mean anything?'
She was sitting on couch dressed in
bedgown, AID her face was pale and
twitching, and there was a look of great
anxiety IN her eyes, aud the good father
felt absolutely afraid to answer her ques-
ton.
'You must try not to excite your
self, " he said.
''You are keeping something back?
You have heard some news?'' cried Lady
Gilmore, raising herself up and graspng
the end of the couch to support herself.
HAS anything been heard of Gerard
of myson?'
'There has some news been heard OF
him, - said Father Hayward, slowly and
painfully.
''Not bad news, say not bad news?'
asked Lady Gilmore In great excitement.
al am getting uneasy, though Hugh
SAID l need not be. Surely he is not
il?''
''No, Lady Gilmore, he is not i'll, "
answered the priest, sOlemnly.
"Then what is ii? Why do you look so
strange? Oh, don't torture me thus!
Has-has he done anything wroug-any
folIy2''
Father Hayward cast down his eyes,
which were full of compassion for the
unhappy woman before aim.
"a great sorrow mas come to you, my
daughter, - he said; "a great trial and
grief-but we must bow to thu Almighty
will
a piercing shrek interrupted Father
Hayward IS words, and Lady Gilmore
= !,
arm.
"What-what Go you mean?" she
cried, her face livid with sudden terror,
and her sunken eyes cleaning wildly.
81 entreat you to try to compose your
self-the sorrow l speak of comes to us
all-try, my daughter, Implore you, TO
bear it with submission-your eldest son,
Lord Gilmore, is-dead!'
Again a wild and piercing shrek fell
on lhe priest IS startled ear.
dead! deadl'' she screamed
"Surely not dead! Oh! Father Hay
wood, say not dead?''
She Erasped his arm tighter, and
peered into his face with an expression of
such misery that the priest was visibly
moved.
at is a sad and sorrowful tact, - he
said slowly, land l grieve greatly to be
forced to tell it to you-but Lord Gilmore
is dead. -
"How did he die? Why was I not
told, then, that he was ill?'' cried Lady
Gilmore wildly. 'Why was this kept
from me?"
Father Hayward was silent; what, in
deed, could he suy?
"How long was he III? Why don't
you speakT' went on the unhappy lady,
still looking wildly up in the priests
averted fnce. ''Say, how old he die?"
"It-was a sudden DEATH" faltered
Father Hayward.
Sudden! Do you mean an aoci-
dent2''
Again the priest could find no words to
tell this dreadful truth.
"What are you keeping back?" cried
Lady Gilmore "'You will drive me mad
tell me the truth-how did he die2"
at is a terrible thing-hs is supposed
to have been murdered-''
1.-The shrek of horror which burst
from Lady Gilmore's frenzied lipa at this
dreadful word rang for days afterwards
in Father Haywa g ears.
Murdered - she repeated in a hol-
low voice of anguish. "Now-now l
uuderstand-mY punishment Is greater
than | can bear-dId Hugh-''
But she never finished the terrible
question trembling on her asheu lips. In
n moment the hldeous thought flashed
through her brain that one brother had
taken the other lifei that the sin of her
youth had brought bitter misery first,
and now death, ana the idea killed her
She staggered back and would have
fallen had not Father Hayward caught
her in his arms, and as he did so he in
stantly perceived that she was stricken
with another, and probably fatal fit.
He laid her quickly on the couch, and
thtn rang violently for assistance, de-
spatching n servant at once for the near
est doctor, ana directing kilograms to
be sent by the butler, Graham, for her
usual physicians III town. But long be-
fore any OF them arrived, Father Hay
ward saw all medical assistance would
be in VAN, aud that the gathering mists
of death were fast dimning Lady Gil
more 8 sight.
He had but time to administer the last
holy rites OF his church, and then stand
ing by her, holding the appraised crucitix
before her dying eyes, he implored her
to think no longer of the troubles of the
world, but to give her last thoughts to
God.
LET yonr sorrows cease now, my