Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-10


"Poor young thing-poor young thingl But
we must pull her through, and that husband OF
hers ought to be here. -
YES said Erne, - casting down his eyes.
'.Ill telegraph for him; this never would
have happened II she had been with him as she
ough TO have been-he ought to be ashamed OF
himselfi''
was some relief to Miss Clifford to be abb to
abuse Hugh Clifford, and thus remove part of
her shoulders. And she did this at intervals
turing the rest of the day, though it must be ad-
United doing every hing she could for poor
Nancy. The doctor, when he arrived, pro-
nuunced her in q critical condition, and added
that her husband should be sent for at once. but
was unable to give any positive opinion as to
her sight. For the present she was blind, and
with heavy heart during the evening Erne
borrowed horse of Miss Clifford and rode to
Wrothsey to break the sad news to Lady Gill
more, before he returned 10 the generals, at
Greystone Lodge, where he was still aging.
A day later and Hugh Clifford arrived at Gate
ford Sanor House. where Nancy still lay very
III. But he was not allowed to see his young
wife for several days. during which time NJ ISIS
Clifford took the opportunity of speaking her
mind to him. She told b in why she had seI.
for Nancy, and Hugh Clifford l.s.ensd with
moody brow and angry heart.
81 meant to take house for her in the
spring. lie said gloomily.
"she won't likely be alive to 90 into It," re-
torted Miss Clifford; ''but il she is, IN see
that you 20 take one: and, moreover, mean to
furnish it and settle the furniture on her,
But after few anxious days Nancy rallied,
but when they told her that her husband was in
''What will he say when he hea.s am blind?'
she said, in tone.
lyon can't help being blind zen II on are, :"
replied Miss Clifford, tlrtly. III he had hap
pened to be struck olind suppose you would
have Just felt the same to him?"
but that Is different said Nancy, with
little sigh, sigh that revealed much TO MISS
Gihord's ears.
But when Hugh Clifford was allowed to see
Nancy, he most kind and gentle to her. He
was greatly shocked TO see her SO changed, and
the idea Of her blindness was intensely painful
10 him.
she said, pt.ably, aud he stopped down and
kissed her brow and eyelids.
"Yeur pretty eyes wiz be all quite o f,gnt
them, Nancy"
He sat down beside the bed and took her
hand in his, and Nancy began to reproach her
self for having ever thought him careless or I'M
III you don't Nina" she said wistfully;
! Don't think ae quite such selfish brute
| rs that ne answered quickly: and then IN
little while he sighed, and rose restlessly, ana
began 20 pace the room
! with his manner to Nancy, and when she basan
| TO recover from the stroAe he used to lead her
down 10 the old-fashioned garden, and MISS
Clifford would watch the two wandering there
arm in arm, and had her head well pleased as
she did so.
USED to reflect; ''if they have son he shall be
my h -ir-except legacies.''
| Nancy was after Hugh clifford arrived Al Gate
! ford Manor House, and then for the first time lie
saw the handsome, grace ul man who mad once
! been Lord Gilmore.
| II do not know how to thank you enough,
! Major me- said Hush Clifford courteously.
''tor Al. our kindness to my poor young wife IN
! her great peril. -
! tsI was only too GLAD to be OF any assistance tC
her, he answered, briefly,
''Yoa are an ola friend of her family, she tells
| me?'' continued II Igh Clifford, pleasantly.
Yes, knew both Col. and Mrs. Lotus very
| Intimately in India
| But he did not say how well he had know
| Nancy! Hugh Clifford thought his manner wa!
| rather abrupt, and smiling told Nancy ate
their interview that he thought her IndiaE
| friend was very reserved.
"There is quite 4 military brevity about hi
style OF conversation he said, land yet ne
not bad-looking fellow
''No Miss Clifford thinks he is quite hand.
some,' answered Nancy, also smiling; Rne
then Hugh, he is SO kind-so very kind
'.He seems TO have been very good to you
little woman, at any rate, though why you were
80 foolish as to start in a storm cannot con-
But it was not a storm when we started
n. did not continue the conversation. anc
Nancy noticed how constantly he would thu
! abruptly end one, and how uncertain his spirit
we're But he said no unkind word to her, aut
| alter remaining about fortnight at Gatetord
he tool; her back to Wrothsley ana MISS 'iu'f'
s!Ihereq Eood-bye,'' she said, as she laid he
thin blue lips against Nancy's; THE last fac
| kissed WAS my dead brother's-your husband
| grandfather-for l am not given to kissing an
Bumbug; but, all the same, an sorrj you ar
going ,,,.-. ,,,.,..s 49,. +ho,,, ,,o,
for all your great Kindness" said Nancy
| sweetly and gratefully.
| Again the stern old woman kissed her, an
| then shook hands with Hugh Clifford.
'.Mind you are good to her, =" she SAID, by wa
of a parting salutatOn to her grand-nephew
and as she watched Hugh hand his poor olin
| Young wife into the carriage she began to mute
~ 'she's too good for him, anyhow" she said
| hail fyafh ary 10
please GOD, too, her son will have I he olu pIac
CHAPTER xxxvr.-A NEW HAPPINESS
The next few months brought great change
TO Nancy. she continued very we Ak and dell
cate all through the early winter. for her con
stitution had received such terrible snocS
she was never quite able TO throw off its effects
ana though her eyesght improved, for long sh
t could see very olmlv ,,., -
{ But size was very gentle, patient invalla, an
won love from all around her by her uncom
planning endurance OF weakness and pam. On
, knew that Hugh Clifford hated the thougnI
her PARTIAL b indness, and she therefore stroV
as much as possible to hide it. But ii was "a
10 see the strained look in her once beautiii
: eyes anu her expression altogether was yer
/ And Christmas came AMI passed away, an
then II the chill January DAYS little son wa
] ! BON at Wrothsley-a beautiful boy, manson
D | rs his father hsd been in his lustv boyhooa
( and from the first Miss Clifford took almost en-
/ tire possession OF the child. .,.-.,.,
She started for the castle imme lately sh
| heard the news, and went up to the bedrool
9 | where the young mother lay with a look
, ! sweet Joy on her face.
e $50 it's a boy2'' she said to Nancy in he
' brusque way well, let me have look
| him?" -, a,
r Then the nurse with great pride held up Il
s babe, and the old woman Peered long an
h earnestly at its face. -.
"A true Clifford. - she said at length; we
he's to be my boy you know Nancy, and l.
r nav for his bringing up, and IN make MN u
D heir; but he must be called Thomas after h
rreat-great-g grandfather, which Is 1ett
e name than any of your new tangled ones. -.
''You III ali have your own way, MISS I'll
ford, - smiled Miss Nancy, 'unless hugh o.
II should like to see Hugh obiectin$, indeed
u No. my dear" she addel, grinly; Hugh w
Y not object; people very confederate TO u
e whims OF rich old women, and he knows We
e we'll can make little Thomas wealthy man.
e II have something to tell you," she sal
softIy holding out her white hand, which MI
q | Clifford took; lever since baby was born n
sight seems to come back to me-God has gay!
h II 10 me think to look on my darling's lace.
lie Miss Clifford nodded twice, but DID not speh
+ 'FAnd your husband she said after q ht'
I while .'whRt does he say about the chiidF
''Oh, he is very pleesed-says ne ID SUN
le handsome boy, p" answered Nancy.
in But she did not tell the grandaunt al IN
G. Hugh Clifford had said when he hrst looked
he the face OF his child. During the long mont
to of Nancy's illness he had come and gone ire
err Wrothsiey at intervals, but had always treat
a | nd consideration