Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-04


them. Her father was a gentleman :,
and it's only because he got killed, poor
old chap, out pig-sticking. that she had
to do anything, and she does it to help
her mother, WHO'S got a lot of other
children.
''She's paragon of virtue by your
account, but all the same, | don Il be-
lieve in that sort of thing; they are all
pretty much alike.
''You don't believe in anything good :,
Gilmore, - said Sir John Indignantly.
Eyes, do. bellows in good looks
and hundred other good things; but 1
don t believe in good women, nor men
either, for that matter. But it strikes
me you are pretty hard hit, old felIow?'
Sir John bulshed, but answered man
fully:
''If YOU mean that 1 admire Miss
Lotus, certainly do.''
81 wonder If l shall admire her, -
said Gilmore, with careless laugh; and
mis- manner as he said these words made
Sir John feel more angry still, and pres
emily he took his leave and left Worths-
ley without having seen a glimpse of
Miss LOTUS, and feeling that he had done
foolish thing to talk of her to Gilmore.
And he had done foolish thing, for
he had excited Gilmore's curiosity. The
young lord rose from his couch with an
amused and languid smile after ne LETT,
and went and stood leaning against the
mantel-piece for few minutes, wonder
Ing how he could see the pretty COVER
ness without exciting any gossip among
the household. His mother, he knew
was out of the way, for Lady Gilmore
had driven over to Greystone Lodge to
fn hi
handsomest, and most expensive
cloak of sables and velvet that
could be purchased in town, to
replace the one which Lady Blenkensop
had sacrificed for Gilmore IS benefit. He
knew where the school room and chill
dren s rooms were perfectly well, though
he had affected to Sir john not TO do so,
for his early days had been spent there;
and he knew also that the suite of rooms
he now occupied was connected by a
short staircase to the long corridor in
which the school room was situated.
The door to this staircase was, however,
always kept locked; and with q little
contemptuous smile at his own folly,
Gilmore, some ten minutes after Sir
John left, proceeded slowly to this door,
and when he reached il perceived that
the key was in the lock.
He turned this, descended the short
staircase, though he felt the exertion
was almost too much for him. But it
was little adventure and Gilmore was
daring, and weary of the monotonY of
his mothers society, and so he went on.
The corridor was of great length, the
rooms all being on the right side of it,
while at the left here and there a niohed
window showed views and glimpses of
the park. Above and around these WIN
dows were ancient armor, the corridor
being actually called the armory, so
large and valuable was the collection it
contained. And as Gilmore walked on,
with his right arm in q sling and his
somewhat languid footsteps supported by
a stick, he stopped once or twice to ex-
anime and admire some of the pieces,
which he had not actually seen since he
was boy when this corridor had been
one of his favorite Fairgrounds.
He was standing thus, close to one of
the windows, when a small hand, on
what seemed TO be a portion of a
woman's black gown, attracted his at
tention. Gilmore moved step forward,
and saw q girl lying fast asleep on
couch placed in one of the niched win
dows He half started as he looked at
young face, with the rosy lips a little
apart: there beneath the grim weapons
of ancient days, frowning down upon
her. he guessed in a moment who it
was-the beauty John Cakes had raved
about-and as Gilmore looked at her he
admitted to himself that the youngster
had not spoken without cause.
ga charming face, he muttered to
himself below his breath, as he scanned
the delicate features, the fair, blooming
complexion wonderfully contrasted with
the dark hair and brows. He could not
look away; the white throat, the bosom
heaviug with the placid breath of sleep,
aud the appearance of extreme youth
for Nancy LOTUS did not look her years
fascinated his beauty-loving eyes, and
he stood gazing at her until the unoon-
scious Nancy slightly stirred.
On this Gilmore, noIselessly as posi-
BILE, drew back. He felt it would startle
the girl to know that she had been
watched and that his sudden appearance
in the corridor might alarm and embar-
rass her. As quietly as he could, there
fore, he retraced his steps and soon
found himself on the staircase which
communicated with his own suite of
rooms. He assembled this, and with
sudden thought-he could not have en-
tirely have explained his reasons, even
to himself-as he passed through the
door leading to his own apartments, he
turned and looked it and carried away
the key.
He laughed softly to himself when he
reached his own bedroom. He felt ex-
cited and amused; the first glimpse of
Nanoy's face seemed to have put fresh
life into his languid pulses and wearied
frame, and when an hour or so later
Lady Gilmore returned, and at once
hurried TO his side, she found Gilmore
with slight flush on his pale checks.
aud brightness in his hazel eyes she had
not seen there since he was wounded.
elbow well you are looking, my dar-
lingi" she exclaimed, with almost pas
sionate joy. "I have thought of you
every moment that 1 have been away. 1
was afraid you might have been so lonely,
so dull. -
81 feel much better to-day" an
swered Gilmore, al fancy, mother,
I shall be able to go out for little while
to- morrow. Well, and how is the ener-
getie Lsdy. Bienkensop?'
Wonderfully we'll, and so kind. As
soon as yod are abls, Gilmore, you must
see her and thank her for all she did. -
''All rigat. I've had visitor to-day,
foo-Iohn 0alxa -