Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-04

Her father seems an honest, straight
forward, working man--but it's sad
thing, Mrs. Clifford. such marriage as
this-it seems as though the evil, spring.
ing from Lady Gilmore's fatal error
would never end
''It has brought great trouble GER
tainly, answered Nancy, with quiver-
ing lips.
She was thinking how it had changed
Hugh Clifford; how the light-hearted,
careless man had become moross, gloomy
and dissatisfied; and now the news of his
elder brothers. marriage was sure still
further to embitter him.
''will you then tell your husband what
1 have said, - added Father Hayward +,
ris ng; 81 shall now go down to Maiden
head and see the new Lady Gilmore, and
he Or everything she has got TO say, aud
them Tomorrow 1 should like to call
aga In here, and consult Mr.. Clifford what
wou be the best steps 10 take under the
circumstances?'
al will tell Hugh, - said Nancy with
some hesitation.
"Please do; will call here tomorrow
morning at II O'Clock, and will you
kindly ask Mr.. Clifford to see me then?'
Nancy promised that she would do so,
anu I0eU Bu6 dSkcu dlIer lLduy
and the children ut Wrothsley.
FLady Gilmore is better, but still very
frail, and absolutely dread the effect of
this news upon her. She misses you
very much, and is always talking of the
turn to Wrothsley. You will come to
her, will You not, if any fresh trouble
fa!ls?'
Eyes" said Nancy in a low tone;
for it seemed TO her that moment that
fresh trouble was very near.
Then after few further words Father
Hayward went away, and Nancy stood
thinking of the task which lay before
her. She had to tell her husband of his
brothers. marriage with girl of iowly
birth: to tell him that probably the last
chance had passed away, that his own
son would never inherit the title, for
Hugh Clifford had always persisted that
Gerard would never marry. And it was
therefore with absolute dread that late
in the afternoou-only just in Time to
dress for dinner-Nanoy heard Hugh
Clifford 20 into his dressing-room, and
minute later with trembling fingers she
raped at the door.
"'Come in, - he called, and Nancy
went in, and Hugh looked round and
nodded as she did SO.
"Well, Nancy, any news?" he said,
carelessly.
~ have got some news, Hugh, she
answered, in q low tone.
az hope it's good then, or 1 don't
want to hear it. -
''lt's something very strsnge-Fsthsr
Hayward has been here, Hugh
"NOthing about my mother, hope?'
"No-but yesterday a man went TO
Wroths ey-8 sort of seafaring man-and
he asked 10 see Lady Gilmore, insisted
upon seeing her, but luckily Father
Hayward arrived at the castle just then,
and the footman appealed to hIm-and
then this man said he wanted TO see Lady
Gilmore about something concerning her
eldest son.
Hugh Clifford turned his head away
sharply.
"What have I to do with this?' he
asked in a changed voice.
"Then Father Hsywsrd took this man
into the library continued Nancy in
faltering accents, "and-he told Father
Hayward strange story, Hugh-where
your brother was brought up, somewhere
on the northern seaceast, this man and
his daughter lived, and--Gerard was en-
gag d to be married 10 this gIrl-when
all the changes came, when he became
Lord Gilmore, you KNOW
A sort of exclamation here broke from
Hugh Clifford 3 lips.
al don't Ike TO tell you all this,
Hugh, went on poor Nancy, "but L
am obliged to do it, because Father Hay
ward wishes TO see you about it,
al won t see him!' interrupted Hugh
Clifford, hoarsely.
HOh! do Hugh-he would think il so
strange il you do nOt-because this man
went on TO tell Father Hayward, that
one day his daughter disappeared from
home and he never heard of her or from
her for months. People said she had gone
to Gerard, and her father saw Gerard in
town, but he denied he knew anything
of her. And her father heard nothing
more till q few days ago-atter Gerard
had DISAPPEARED for fortnight-and then
the daughter wrote TO her father to tell
him of her distress-and to tell him too,
that she was married to Gerard
HWhat!' SAID Hugh Clifford, so
darkly, so passionately, that Nancy abb
solutelY trembled.
"They are really married. she went
on after moments pause. "Father
Hayward ascertained this was so before
he came here, and he thought that you
should know-for, Hugh, a baby is COM
ing
An inarticulate cry of absolute fury
now burst from Hugh Clifford 8 quivering
lips.
cit is a lie, nothing but a lie!'' he
almost shouted, his face pale with pas
sion the while; ''this is another trick of
the priest IS TO rob me again of what al
ways should have been mine. He has
bribed this woman no doubt - now
when
Suddenly he paused; suddenly turned
away his head, and half staggered across
the room as If utterly overcome.
"Oh! Hugh said Nancy appeal
ingly, and she went up to him and
would have put her hand on his shoulder,
but be shrank away from her.
Don't, don't touch me, =" he said
hoarsely. els this true, absolutely true,
that you have been telling me?" he
added, turning round and facing her.
"Did the priest say this?'
eyes, it is true, - faltered Nancy.
"Did he say anything else?'
"Yes-he said he thought the time
had now come when the family should
offer a reward for any clew to-your
brothers. disappearance-andh he wished
to see you about this. -
al won I see hin. once for all! -