Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-05-14

"Dicli, my boy, don't say that" broke
IN the major, his voice shaken by emo
tion beyond his control. 81 love you like
my own sou, Richard, and II you don't
come any more the old man will be very
lonely. Richard, you know how much you
are TO me-
But you say you will not see this
lady"
Il say cannot"
"And say you will not pursued Tor
rance, relentlessdy. You win not recon
sderY
'Dick, don't ask me. l cannot"
'srhen, major" snih Torrance. his hand
on the door knob, II must pack my va
lise'
"a groan of mental and physical an
glish was the only answer he received.
and he left the room feeling terribly
cut up; hut the thought OF the mother
and her golden-hared child thar nestled
on his breast in the stormy darkness of
last night safe In the mans strong arms,
sustained him. He found Mrs Bolton in
the hall with her bat and veil on, holding
Bessie by the hand.
"You are not going, Mrs. Bolton" he
said as he approached.
81 must" She answered sadly. Your
mission | can see by your face was not
successful
at was not, grieye to say. The mill
tgIy was too strong for me; was obfurate
and evasive. But if you go | go also:
and If you can wait minute l will tnke
II upon myself to see that You want for
no personal comforts on the return
MIR. Torrance. you are Kind. generous.
hut | cannot, | must not. ] will not
allow myself to be- thu means of estrang-
ing you from my father, who, | know,
cherishes your friendship higher than
anything he possesses. You must not go;
for my fathers sake | ask il"
L.. 4 4 81 a.
phasis, ''if you will permit me to leave
with you and at least So. you safely as
far as the railway station. | shall con-
slider myself as the recipient of q very
great favor
She bowed assent and he FASTENED 10 get
his traps. 'LincOln" he said tossing n half
dollar TO II young servant he met In the
lower hall. "rm ever TO the tavern ana
have them send over two-horse carriage
right away" Farther on he encountered all
the female doineatics who assaulted him with
whispered interrogntions, the older ones with
lamentations aud tears. ''Mass' Dick, Miss
Virginia goini" Can't Miss Virginia stay I,
"Wha' Miss Virginia goin, Mass Dick
MASS Dick, 70 de good deal Lo'd's sake.
Mass Dick, wont You beg. won't you pray
unto the majah to keep Miss Virginia an
yerey' pleaded old Caroline who had been
Nirginia's nurse In the other days, the
while her hands were clasped imploringly.
'Ill see that she doesn't come to any
harm Caroline" said Torrance gently,
touched by this appeal and knowing the
fut!llty Of explanations. He succeeded In
getting away from the circle Of dark anx-
iolis fares. and went on TO get bis oyercoht
and vallse with which he returned pres
emily to the lower hall where he had LEFT
Mrs. Bolton waiting Il am ready" he
said. "A carriage Will be here in, few
minutes"
She was crying quietly behind her Yeil
aud Bessie was trying vaguely TO comfort
her, Torrance stood siroklng his moustache
with. thoughtfnl cuuntennnce; suddenly
20 aud say goodbye to the major, Mrs.
Bolton. May Bessie 81 with i me-" a.
hand In his. Bessie was not backward
aud together they trod the length % the
vast hall, he grave and silent, she chatter
Ing blithely and irrelevantly as sparrow.
They entered the study and the major saw
with manifest conservation this new and
reinforced attack hearing down on him;
bis hat In Ills hnnd. Bessie surveyed her
grandfather In silence and chung closely 10
rorrancc's hand for a twinge OF the govt
features anything hut reassurng.
Major 1 have come to say goodbye"
saI TS Sa WIN I e5rs s SvliSS
jor, without booking at HIN.
81 do
nut, Dick, have sent Tom for the
'rn make, you a present of the dogs,
You are not going to walk 10 the train.
DlcL p Interrupted the major.
"oh. no.. have ordered rig from
You've done WHAT" roared the major
between anger and the pain which Just
then reached It's height, Bessie began to
cry, The major whose eyes had not left
her face since she entered, said in u soft
reached his hand forth to place II on her
golden curls. "Whose child Is this, Rich
"Your grandchld major. Do YOU see
no resemblance 10 any one who has lived
Ia your, family Kiss grandpapa good bye,
Bessie"
Bessie wiped the tears out of her eyes
with her fist and sohbingly clambered onto
in her effort kicking against the equity
foot, causing the perspiration TO start out
on the majors forehead The face of this
veteran, who had been in the thick OF seven
teen engagements and lore the sears OF
i've battles, was Il study; the tears were
coursing freely down the massive features
o. he took In his arms tEls living miniature
~ the loved wife whom he hal called Bcs-
sic In the early days II cOurtshin and mar
riage, but for twcnty-thrre years had been
q memory that fingered about the church,
yard In the hollow. His voice was not much
and asked: where is Virginia."
Torrance was not slow In finding her
and shutting the door ON the three together;
then, as a sort Of compensation for his
own feelings, he went out on the ycranda
and smoked a cigar Lincoln drove M with
The livery rig and Torrance, In hts ex-
telling him 10 take II back ut once as no
lady could ride In such mediocre AFFAIR;
he paid literally for II, however. by and
BY the majors voice was lifted M In the
distance and Tcfnlnce heard 1t from afar
Mass Dick, de mniah wants you said
Itbe' ventuiing his head out through the
Torrance entered the library and found
everybody tearfully radiant except Bessie,