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

ing some business before he left England.
"But you won't stay long?n she
asked.
"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.
land you won { see your mother first,
then2''
"No. no, could not stand it-but for
her"
Here he abruptly broke off his SEN
tence, and Nancy asked no more ques-
tons. 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.
Goodbye little fellow he said :,
and for moment his hazel eyes grew
dim; "be good always to your mother
better than your father has been1'
''But Hugh-Hugh, why do you speak
like that-as II you were going away for
so long?' said Nancy with agitation.
Nonsense. / was only giving the
youngster good ADVICE he answered >,
trying to speak lightly, though his lips
quivered. "Well, Nancy here is your
boy again. need not tell you TO take
good care of him-and take good care of
YOURSELF
"Yes; but I wish you would not go.
Hugh
He made no answer, but he stopped
down aud kissed her twice.
,"Poor little woman - she heard him
muttter. 81 will write,' he added,
and then he wrung her hand, looked for
one moment IN her face, and the next
had hurried away; and two minutes later
was driven from the house.
And great depression fell on Nancy's
| heart after ne was gone. His manner
| had been so strange and the whole cir
| cumstRuces connected with his brothers.
disappearance were SO mysterious, that
| Nancy dare not even 10 herself admit
her secret dread. Mrs. LOTUS saw very
| we'll that something was Weighing heav-
! lily on her daughter 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 was still In town, one day again
called on Nancy. ana once more no
ticed how i'll and anxious she was look
! ing.
"What message have I TO carry to
| Miss Clifford, - he asked, smiling. al
| leave town the day after Tomorrow. and
| she will expect to hear some news of you
and her little heir. -
"You must tell her baby is very
we'll"
land your"
"Oh. am fairly we'll too
| ''You do not look so then; you must
| forgive an old friend for saying this,
| but really l cannot give good account
| OF you.
| "Perhaps want change, - said Nancy
uneasily.
"You want something l am sure; why
| not go to Miss Clifford s., as 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 it was from Hugh
! Clifford, and was the first letter she had
received since he went abroad.
"This is from Mr.. Gifford,'' she said;
"he is away, you know"
81 did not KNOW answered Erne.
rising restlessly: ''but don't mind me;
| l will look out of the window while you
read your letter.
He went to one of the windows of the
room as he spoke, and stood there gazing
vaguely out. Suddenly he heard sort
of exclamation from Nancy and turn
! ing quickly round, saw her standing,
| quite pale, and staring at the letter in
| her hand as if she did not understand its
meaning.
al hope you have got no i'll news?"
he said.
"I-I-do not know eannat under
stand, J." she faltered out.
He crossed the room and went up to
her, aud as he did this the letter flut-
tered from Fancy's nerveless hand and
fell upon the floor, and Erne stopped
down and lifted it up.
EWbat is the matter?'' he said
kindly, as he laid the letter on o table
near.
"I-I-cannot tell, - said Nancy in
broken voice, land yet, oh! Godfrey
you are an old friend-tell me what
must do?''
She put out her hand as if appealing
for help, and Godfrey Erne took it.
elf can help you in anyway" he
said, earnestly, tplease let me do So
"It is ON Hugh-my huspand-to
tell me, that he has left me, - went on
poor Nancy still in broken voice, - to
tell me that he has gone.''
"Whati Do you mean for goodl'
"Yes, that is what he says-thst he
will never come back -
"Imposslblei Surely you are mis-
taken. Had you any auarrel?'
"No. none, none; it is not that"
Again she put her trembling hand out
for the letter. and re-rsad it, and then
gave it to Godfrey Erne.
"You can read it and tell me what
you think, she said.
Then Erne read the letter, and his
face grew very stern as he did SO, and
his gray eyes flashed. 1t was as follows
"a strange letter indeed to be penned by
young husband to young wife, and
whom be had parted from so lately with
q tender kiss:
"Nancy. For no more can I write
my Nancy, since this letter must end our
brief married life-apd hencsforth we
must be as strangers. 1 write this with
pain, because ! shrink from giving you
pain, and because you have deserved
nothing but good from my hands. But
we never should have married. Years
before l saw you, was bound by honor
to another woman; to q woman who had
sacrificed much for my sake, and only
loved me too well. To this woman l
heva now raturned and from this aten