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

TIlE MADNESS OF FEAR.
couldn't help It, 1t was stronger than
], rs the French sny-thHt yeaming TO DO
near Taras TO pass the house IN which no
lived--iho house with which the dearest,
the happiost associations Of my life were
connected, and after resisting the tempta-
ton as long as could. wandering about
the city with the cndeavor to distract my
Thoughts By looking in the shops, took
turning down to the river, and at the first
station stepped on board Chelsea steamer.
as IL likely" asked myself "that
shall be seen by any one lnowW Mover
theless II was tho hope OF seeing Taras, II
but afar OF, that led me into this imprti-
dence for, despite my disguise, | knew
that was doing wrong-thnt ! was jeop-
nrdizing the escape of Gordon, the safety
Of 1aras hinself-by exposing myself even
90 the remote chance OF discovery. Most
Of the people on board looked like Lam.
beth folk A gentleman was waiting on
thoTemple pier who, In the distance, looked
Ike Kavanagh.
1 shivered with suppressed excitement ns
we drew nearer and nearer to the spot In
which all my fondcst hopes were conferred.
Ny heart beat wildly as caught sight OF
the kilns beyond Westminster, my head
swan, and every object grew dim and in
distinct before my eyes rs the boat crossed
toward Lambeth pier.
Prudence told me that here at lenst /
ought TO 90 below or screen myself for
every man on the pier know me well by
sight. But was deaf TO every voice, blind
to every danger ! even rnised my veil
that might better scan the faces OF the
passeugnrs upon the pier we were nearing
Oh. II TArns might only DO among theml
L d H..N.N
fool his prcsencel There were three or four
familiar faces close TO me when we ran
alongside, but not his I stood up and
strained my eyes as the late passengers ran
down the footbridge. He was not among
them, and that vain hope was gone. But
there was still tho chance Of seeing him at
the window whom the bridge wns passed
and could get an unohHtructed view OF the
house
We passed under the bridge, morting rs
the funnel WIS lowered and then M the
smoke blow away something seemed TO
smite my heart like the blow Of great
hammer, Tor, looking back, / saw tho blinds
ofall the v,dndows wern drawn down.
Great hoavun, Taus Ia deadp' That
was my first thought, and then, dlviuing
the truth, said to myself. THE car has
conquered
But this end OF all happiness was too ter
rihle 10 be accepted while any spark Of
doubt remained, and tried to cheat myself
with hopes-as " mere belief could alter
the COURSE o. inevitable fate, or hope undo
what was done tried TO explain the drawn
blinds by supposing less dreadful calam-
ity. Poor old Mere Lucna was gone.
Yes, yes.n ! said TO myself, grasplng at
this possibility, ''Alere Lucas is dead, poor
sUulr'
Leaving the boat at Vauxhan pier, hur
He'd along Millbank, repeating this phras,
again and again like charm, aud crossing
Lambeth bridge drew near tho old house,
still striving 70 believe that my eyes had
deceived me, yet faint with dread.
could 20 no farther than tho corner op-
posito the house, It's aspect OF desolation
paralyzal my limbs and forced me TO cling
To the wall for support There WIS no sign
Of life ga IT, The shutters Of the living
room were closed; the blinds Of the win
dows above drawn. The bulbs Taras gave
me to plant In the boxes on my window
tills the last week ! was with him had
lowered and faded. The withered bloom,
hung over the edge Even the foliage hnC
dropped for want OF attention. At tho cor
nor OF foTy street one Of the carmen from
the pottery was packing jars In his van
Needless OF the risk ran for there secmet
no longer any need Of disguisc-I totteret
across the road. md IN voice made veal
and trenulous by emotion asked him /
be could tell me whore Nine Lucas lived
mime. Lucas.' he responded carelessly
still packing away the jars "Oh, she'
gone away, She uscd to live In the hous
down there as is shut mp now. She's beoi
gone ever since Christmas"
"Does-doea any ono live there now~
faltorod.
NO, Look here, missis," he added
strengthening himself aud scratching hi
head, you're upset my counting along o
your questions Hers, Dili Wright" n
called 70 young man who was arranging
more Jars against The wall. heres part
wants to know something about Nine. Lu
cas-
Il only wanted 20 know whore could
find hor," said timidly.
She's living now down In Surrey along
with Mr TRras, said William Wright.
"He Is not deadp' gasped
II haven't heard Of bis dying, mum.
though know he was very bad before he
luft.H
My heart leaped at this. oh, n Tara,
were only-ill there was yet hopel
Can you tell mo where can find him
Nine, Lueas, meanp
II know it's Woking way WHERE thel
live now Bettorford thinks the nami
OF the place, but can't he suron
"Hee, said tho carmsn, run round 4
the hoffiee, old lady, and ask for Mr. Kaya
nagh, He knows Hand US up them quartz
Bill"
At that name recognized the rashness o
my folly, albeit neither the carman no