Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-05-20


The arrival Of hs uncle had most bone
ncial eject upon Ralph Holmes. Being In a
| perfect state OF health, when no received his
injury, tho wound began to hcnl from tho
First, and, after tho pressure had boon lifted
/ from the brain. save TOR tho ahoek, no was ~
strong ~ he had ever boon IN his life.
! Tho next morning no drossod, without any
assistance, and knocked at the commodores
door, before ho wasup. On announcing him
sali he was told TO come In, which he did,
and advancing To the bod. said;
Uncle George, there II really no reason
why should play tho invalid any longer.
Tho soar ON my forehead Is little bit
tender rs yet, but. apart from that, fool
aA we'll an ever l did. They breakfast here
about nine but, if You get up, we can take
stroll through thu beautiful grounds TIL
then, and II viii be u pleasant surprise for
Dora 10 aec mo Unexpectedly at tho table"
"Ah, haW sold tho commodore. throwing
aside the bed cover, and appearing In his
nalamas, 40 you have got as fur ~ that
ch2"
AS far as whatY' asked Ralph.
why YOU call hor Dora without any pro-
tS' Do you do that whom she Is prosontY"
Ralph blushod, tried to laugh. Iolslnely
told his uncle to hurry up, and then went
down 10 the broad piazza,
II ralph expected to surprise Dora by ap-
pearing unexpectedly at table, he was dos
tined 70 disappointment, for tho eyes OF love
are ever keea, That young lady was habit
uaily an early riser, and her first duty of tho
day was to 60 10 hcr mothers apartments
bid her good morning and help hor TO droes.
Dora was engaged in this pleasant duty.
talking on tho subject OF which hor heart
was full, and OF which sho was noyor weary,
when aho saw the commodore and his nephew
walk down tho grounds In tho direction Of the
lookout, whore tho young man received the
wound which came 80 near being fatal.
Mrs. Morton surprised her daughter by
saying
MY child, | am sure Commodore West
recognized me last night. l could not sleep
for wondering what It was best Tor mo to do
undor the circumstances. Nothing that can
be said or done. now, can change the facts
yet iocl II is duo him that no ahould know |
am NOT the morconary and iaithloss creature
he must have thought mo through all these
years shall breakfast with him this morn
Ing. then take him to the conservatory and
tell him the whole truth. That oil my mind
feel that the bitterness OF life will ho easier
to bear
Dora kissed her mother, and az Mile. Ber-
trAnd entered at that moment. abe Widespread,
81 am glad, dear mother you have come TO
this decialon,H
whether by Dora's deAign OF not. we cannot
pretend to say, but cortaln It Is. that break.
last was served that morning on a table AZ,
Tor four In Mrs Mortons private dining
room, which opened Into the long lahyrintt,
VI exquisite oonseryatories. Ralph was in
nigh spirits, and the commodore, catching
me humor from the younger man, was any.
thing but tho taciturn person he had an.
peared when at table tho night before Ae
spoke OF the time when he was stationed an
tho Pacific coast. with headquarters Mt san
Francisco, and OF tho many pleasant peonle
whom no had met in those daya anon,
whom he mentioned Mrs. Mortons rather
and mother, But with rare dolichey Ia
'otoote speaking OF herself. aud with a
weman's tact she appreciated his motive.
~ was al Dora's suggestion that tho four
visited the conservatory aitcr breakfast. aud
was through her generalship that her
mother and the commodore were loft To-
ge'her while she led Ralph further down
under tho fronded Palms and between VANS
q exquisite cxotcs.
see'ng that Nrs. Morton was no; strong
.'le commodore. who had gallapily given her
his efin, thouehtmlly took advantage OF the
nfst seat that prosontod itself to lnsia, upon
nor waung Anor she had sat down She IN.
sorted her baud In her breast. drew out a
paekase OF yellow papers. and looking up at
h'n win a sleadincss OF purpose IN the
sEga' ssn'lc face that surprised him. she
pnodeFe West, I have purposely
sought 'eig interview, For twenty years
WN mer san NASn thought me ono sof tho
"r' 'w'h'eq, aad meieeuarv Of women.