Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-09-14
TALL RIGHTS REsERvED.1
CHAPTER xLvI-"GREATER THAN CAN



the mothers mind that a dark and
haunting shadow had fallen on her
daughters heart. That Nancy's mar
ried life had been an unhappy one, and
LOTUS already knew. But as she list
ened TO Nancy's feeble murmurings, she
began to understand that some tragic
uudercurrent must also be depressing her
mind and her extraordinary agitation at
the news of her brother-in-law' g death
naturally turned Mrs. LOTUS thoughts
in that direction.
But she said nothing and asked no
questions, but nursed poor Nancy with
the greatest tenderness and care. And
Nancy was i'll many days after this; i'll
when the coroner's inquest was held on
the body Of the unfortunate young man
who had been lured to his doom. AT
this inquest Mai. Erue was called upon
to give evidence, and the unhappy young
widow also had to tell the same sad story
that we already know; how Gerard,
Lord Gilmore, had left the Rookery on
the 29th of April, with the avOwed in
tention of starting for town by the 8
clock train, and how she meyer saw
him again in life.
Then the station master gave his evil
dence aud positively swore that he saw
and spoke TO Lord Gilmore at five or
sayen minutes to IL O CLOCK on the same
night, stating that he could not be mis-
taken OH account OF the popularity of
Lord Gilmore's figure; and also added
that he appeared to have been drinking
heavily, and spoke very indistinctIv.
John Summers identified the body MS
that OF his Eon-in-law, who had formerly
borne the name of Gerard Brewster; and
Mai Erne also identified the hapless
young man who had died so drear
death. The policemen gave evidence as
to the finding of the body buried close TO
the wall OF the riverside villa, last in
habited by her at the time of the disap-
pearance OF Lord Gilmore; and MI. Glib
son, the builder, stated the facts regard
ing the letting of the house, aud the
return of the KEYS 10 the house-agent
after q brief tenancy on the part of that
lady But the medical evidence was the
most important; the two doctors who
had made the post-mortem examination
proving Gerard, Lord Gilmore, had come
to his death by poisoning, no wound
whatever or injury being found on his
person.
The only reasonable conclusion to be
drawn from the evidence, therefore, was
provided that the station master was
correct III his statement-thatt the unfOr-
tunate young lord had while in q drunk
en- condition on the train. been induced
to leave IL nj the next station, and that
be had been lured back to the villa and
there poisoned, and that Madame de
Costa must have been cognisant of these
facts, if not the actual perpetrator of the
crime, and warrant was issued for her
apprehension.
She had stated in letter to the house
agent that she was leaving the villa on
account of the illness OF relative in the
south of France, aud this WIS about the
ouly clue she had left behind her. But
verdict OF "willful MURDER was re-
turned by the jury against her, and also
against her two Spanish servants, names
unknown.
Erns remained TO hear the verdict and
then returned to town; and later in the
day the eucofIined form of the murdered
man was carried back TO the house he
had left with so light heart. and the
young wife he had ceased to love walled
and wept by it in bitterest grief.
And ether tears were shed bitter,
bitter tears-over the young lord 5
NAMED at Wrothsley after her return
there, had from the first news of his dis
appearance felt the deepest anxiety re-
Eurdiug him. and had eagerly sought tor
every scrap of information concerning
him. And then the terrible
tidings reached Wrothsley that his
dead body had been discovered i'll the
garden OF the riverside villa, Mrs. Brew
ster gave way 10 the most passionate
grief. She had truly loved the adopted
son, whom she had tended and reared
her own, aud, TO do Gerard justice, he
had always been most kind and cousid-
crate to her, aud even after he had as
sumed the title continued TO treat her
with affection, and used to write to her
occasionally ma send her presents; and
Mrs. Brewster was never weary of prais-
ing him. The news of his death was
therefore a terrible blow TO her, and she
completely broke down under II, CRYING
out that they had Killed her boy bv tax
ing him away from her; that had he
been with her he would have been living.
Father Hayward had given positive
orders to every servant in the castle that
no newspaper was TO be allowed to fall
into Lady Gilmore's hands that con-
tanned anv illusions TO her eldest son ;
disappearance; but when the actual ac-
count OF the murder appeared the good
man scarcely knew how to act. He tels-
gruphed 10 Nancy TO come to Wrothsley,
but received a reply from Mrs. LOTUS in
forming him that her daughter, Mrs.
Clifford, was too Ill 10 leave her bed, and
quite incapable of travelling. Then he
bethought him of Mise Clifford, but the
grim old lady at Manor house positively
refused TO 90 near Wrothssv under the
circumstances.
''lt's all her own doing, not mIne,''
che said tartly. ''She untitled this poor
lad for his station, aud then to punish
Hugh Clifford for marrying a girl that is
q deal too good for HIN she told the
truth about her own sin and folly aud
this is the end of it, The lad s head was
turned naturally enough, and he was
vain as peacock, aud some artful jade
OF IL foreign woman has got hold of him
no doubt, aud fattered him up and made
fool of him, and then murdered him
for the sake OF his money, and his dia-
moud rings and his studs that he was SO
fond of Displaying
"He did not turn out certainly as |
had hoped - said Father Hayward sor-
rowfully.
NO" answered Miss Clifford sharp |