Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-12-24

hoard Mere Lucas voice, and then Tnras
spoke In reply could not catch his words
but there was nothing in the tone OF ms
voice to indicate that appalling change tor
which had been prepared. What lind the
men-Kavanaghi IS agents--done TO him that
night when they called him to the doori
Had they inflicted such injuries as to de-
prive him OF reasonf That was the greatest
calamity | could imagine.
He was In the hall now. Every word he
spoke was distinctly audible
"Oh. there was plenty Of time" he said |
1--WE had nearly quarter Of an hour TO |
wait before tho train came In The air Is
soft this morning. Spring has come again,
mother | will 10 in the garden till lunch
time"
There was nothing in this TO signify men.
tai arrangement; the only thing that struck
me was that he spoke with less decision
than of old that there was an accent Of de
pendence in his tone, And observed that
the sound of his footstep was not the same
At one time should have distinguished 1t
from q thousand, now | should not have
known 1t for his. IL had been firm and
light and quick, now It was slow and heavy
and shutting, like the stepo of old age Nero
Lucas went out with him into the garden
at the back Of the house, passing so near
the room where sat that heard the rustic
Of her skirt Did he need her support that
she accompanied him step by step1 What
had they done to himf Was he MANNED
for lief
As their voices faded away, suspense be-
came intolerable, | stole cautiously out OF
the room and along the passage leading TO
the garden at the back. Approaching the
door, perceived Mere Lucas coming alone
tltf.I nsrs nd nm ha ma
and raised her finger to bid me be silent;
then, stopping, she glanced back, raised her
two hands and let them fall in pity and
beclloned me to advance
went "a far as the door, and there on
tho threshold stopped spellbound. Taras
sat on a garden sent on the opposite side of
the lawn, his hands folded idly on his knee
1t was strange to see him, OF old so nerv-
ousy active, sitting motionless without a
book, paper or sSetchbook in his hand
with nothing to occupy his eager mind, but
it was not that which made my heart stand
still. His face was turned directly toward
me, and yet he took no notice Of me
moved forward step, stretching out my
hands involunturily, and still he sat un-
moved and motionless. Then knew what
had befallen him-whnt those hired villains
had done that night He was blind they
had destroyed his eyes,
My emotion was too deep and terrible for
tears. | could only stand there clhsping
my hands in an agony OF pity,
Tho tears were running down Mere Luz
cas- checks as she came to my side and laid
her hand in sympathy upon my arm. She
would have led me away, but shook my
head, refusing to 60.
HE will sit like that for hours" she
whispered, listening to the birds 1t is all
| he eau do"
Silently ! crossed the lawn and dropped
upon my knees before him, awestricken
| by his passive Inconsistencies, his help
lessness and the calm, sad resignation In
his noble face, Ia that sweet presence no
bitter feeling could enter my heart. But
when left him my soul WAS stirred with
vindictive passion, and great craving for
vengeance upon the remorseless villain who
had wrecked the life of his friend possessed
me vowed that Kayanagh should be
brought TO account that he should suffer
as he had made Taras suffer, and that If
justice refused to punish him then my hand
should strike the'blow.
This burning passion sharpened my wits
whipped up my hnggng energy and re-
animated my courage The necessity Of
secrecy was more evident TO me now than 1t
had been hitherto
you will not betray me To any one in the
worldy" said to Mere Lucas.
"Isit possible, my poor friendY she asked.
as It likely that should expose your mis-
fortunes when myself am chiefly TO blame
for all that has befallen your Besides, you
forget that | still love you, my dear. Nay.
will do anything in the world to help
you"
could stay hereY' l asked eagerly.
4, Of
again under the same roof with Taras and
to watch him day by day. even " | might
not speak to him.
TO be sure, my dear" answered Mere
Lucas gladly There are half IL dozen
spare rooms, and the master has begged me
again and again to have my cousin, Nine.
Leroy, down here Who is to know you
are not my cousinl Why, truly you may
stay. Mile. Judith will not be back before
Saturday afternoon. That gives you two
WHOLE days.
mo more" said, with sinking heart.
why, my dear, you may stay longer II
you think II would be wise But look You,
mndemolselle, Judith has sharp eyes. and
when one looks at you closely it is clear
you are not so old as your gray hair Aud
mndomoiscle has feelings like any other
woman, so you can't expect her 20 look
kindly on You, even II she consents to stay
in the same house with YOU
saw how unreasonable, how Impractical.
bic my idea was, but for all that 1t was not
easy to abandon it. My heart was wrung,
not with mere womanly jealousy, but with
n sense OF my terrible loss 1t was dread.
full TO think that another had taken my
place in Tarns' heart, and that could do
nothing for him, nothing whatever, at a
time when a woman's love and sympathy