Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-03
TALL RIGHTS REsERvED.l
CHAPTER rrz11r.-r OLD MANS CURSE.

A week after this secret meeting by the sea,
the inhabitants Of Scarley were one morning as
tonished and startled to see John Summers, the
boat builder, running bareheaded down the will
lage, inuuiring Of every one he met If they had
seen any ming of his girl.
John had risen as usual at o'clock, and with
out rousing his daughter, was his custom
had gone to the work-yard, only returning TO
the house at O'Clock, when he expected his
breakfast would be ready for him. MAY was a
most attentive daughter, and 1t was rarely that
the old man did not find eve rything prepared for
his wcll-earHed Tefresnment. But on the par
tfcular morning. when john Summers entered
the kitchen where ne thought to find the meal
yuread and the fire burning brightly, TO his
great surprise, though not at first alarm, he saw
the crate vas black and cold, and that there
were no preparations whatever for breakfast.
He at once supposed that May had oversight
bcrse.f and went upstairs and raped at her
bedroom door. But there was reply, and
now becoming really alarmed, he opened the
bedroom door and looked in, only to find the
room was empty.
John stood and stared around him like a man
who could not believe the evidence of his own
senses The bed had not been slept in since it
was made. and there were some signs of dis
order and haste, but still nothing very remarka-
bic in the appearance of the room. But May
was not there, and with a sort of inarticulate
cry. the cid man ran out bareheaded into the
village; and stopped everyone he met to inquire
II they had seen her.
ma va seen aught o. my lass?'' he asked
with trembling lips, starting eyes, and sink
ing heart. But no one had seen her, and pres
emily some Of his gossips gathered round him,
questioning HIM about Mays disappearance,
and Offering him the rough, though kindly SYM
UA'hv of which he so greatly stood in need.
when didsJ thou see her last, John2'' asked
one old weather. beaten crone.
last night at O'Clock" he answered
hoaTselv; we had our bit supper, and then
dear lass and here his voice broke, ''she
kissed me and went to bed
"Ha' she been in bed then?' asked the
No. it didn't look like it, - John was forced
20 admit, ana the gossips around shook their
heads
Maybe she's off with the humpbacked chap,
they say is q grand lord now, - said one rough
fellow who had been listening, taking his pipe
ont of his mouth to make the suggestion.
But in a moment John Summers turned upon
him with face white with rage.
Thou foul tongued villain! Say that again
and u knock thee to the ground!' he shouted.
and the man quail ed before his angry eyes.
Nay John, JOhu, he meant ne harm!'' cried
the women. But where can the poor lass be?''
they asked. "She surely Gamma ha' fallen DER
the cliff, sleep-walking, like Bob Johnson's
girl did twenty years ago?'' said one. ''Or
one dement, and made away wi HERSELF sug-
Eested another. That's more like it, calmly
limited q third
a weird chorus indeed was now sung round
John Sumner dazed ears, and every old woman
had something terrible to relate. One remem-
bered girl setting herself on fire, and rushing
down madly TO the sea, and dying there in des-
pcrate pain. A second had a dismal tale of a
poor lass murdered by jealous lover, VIII ose
dead body found the next morning hidden
in a cave. John listened and looked from one to
the other, with whitening lips and haggard
~ es; and then suddenly breaking Dose from
them, he started off alone along the cliffs in
search for his girl
All that day he wandered, and all that night,
taking no sleep, and the whole of the villagers
were ready to help him in his search. At last
some Of them went to the nearest railway
station, but could get no reliable information
there. Several women had left in the night
train fer the south, but If May Summers had
done so, no one seemed to have noticed her.
And If she had gone she had taken nothing with
her except the clothes she must have worn.
Some Of the women when John was out of the
house, crept in and up to Mays room, curious
10 find out what she had .eft behind. All her
dresses there they thought but one, and
her last new hat and jacket had also dis
appeared.
It began to be whispered about, therefore,
that May had run away, though no one dare
exactly 10 tell her father this; and naturally
enough also Gerard Brewster's name began to
be coupled with her s. They were known to
have been sweethearts, and the great change in
Berard's fortunes was also known, and these
preferred gilded shame to honest poverty, and !
mat The old man was wasting his time yalnly IN |
seeking for her.
some hint of this at last reached Johns |
ears, and when he understood it he lifted up his /
hand and cursed his daughter il it true. |
ana the same day he returned to his work |
broken hearted man and aged; and when any 4
Dne mentioned May to him he sternly babe |
hem TO be silent. He went on in this fashion |
lt arly month. and then suddenly he also dis
,ppeared from SCarley; and when the villagers
woke Up one morning they discovered John
sumner house and work yard locked and
'loseu, and found that the old man had gone
lie had gone away in silence to seek his
laughter in London, having sort of vague be-
iet that if she had really run away with the
Dung man he mad known as Gerard Brewster
hat he would most likely find her there. And
he next few days found him wandering about
he crowded streets of the vast city apparently
10
But John Summers was a shrewd man, and by
lint OF inquiries he soon learned the parts OF
he town that 4 rich young man would be most
lkely TO frequent. The season was almost over
y this time, and for some reason or other John
COX it into his head TO walk up and down
Iccadilly, and sometimes went into the park,
Namining every carriage that passed him as he
nd so.
And at last his patience was rewarded. One
tternOOn he was proceeding on his usual route
,hen hanson pulled up in Piccadilv Just a
CIV PAGES before him, and young man jumped
ut and began ringing at certain door. In
moment John Summers recognized this young
nan, the peculiarly of his figure making him
uite sure he was not mistaken. The door was
pened b. man-servRnt before Summers could
each it, and then the young man ran into the
ouse, after calling TO the cabman to wait for
i'm.
There were one or two loiterers standing
bout and John Summers at once addressed one
these.
Can you tell me the name of that gentleman
Tho went into that house?'' he asked.
DO you mean the young man with the
imp back?" answered one of the idlers.
That's Lord Gilmore, and there's a
undCriul story about the way he has sue
coded 10 the title; they say his Brother
Hut Ohm had heard enough. and the next mo- |
lent he rang the bell Of the house door, which |
e had seen Lord Gilmore enter, and when il was 1
pauet ny asked to see him.
Il want TO see Lord Gilmore - he said.
The man servant eyed his rough garments, and
engral bearing superciliously.
- cont think you can see his lordship,' he !
answered.
Il must see him, a" said John, positively: and
be man was just considering what he should do
hen the new Lord Gilmore himself came down |
he stairs Of the house, for he had in truth re-
armed 10 his rooms for something he had for
often, and moment or Two later he found !
lmself face TO lace with the old man he renlem-
cred since his boyhCod,
he gave little start, and his face flushed
,ep'y, but he recovered himself almost in
aGily.
"Mr. Summers! Can it really be you in
lwn:' he said. and he held out his hand, but
1ln Summers did not take it.
- want a word or two with you he said
.u-hly enough.
TO be sure, - answered the new lord; ''I'm
q hurry, but come along upstairs, Mr.. sum
Frs; one doesn't meet an old friend like you
cry day
SO John Sumers followed Lord Gilmore to
mich he preferred to inhabit when in town to
e family mansion in Eaton square. No one
deed ever went near the family mansion now,
r Hugh Clifford also declined to stay there,
I'd the house had been closed during the whole
ason.
This is my den.'' said Gilmore. when they
ached his rooms, for as Gerard had now form l
~ assumed the title. we must in future give
IN the name he rghtfully bore in the world, !
I'd drop the old familiar one. :