Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1886-08-28
five MILLION POUNDS,
BY T. M REID.

BY t. wEMYss REID.
/ could hardly believe, however, that the
trouble was likely to conn from this man,
with his powerful and commanding counter
his polished manner, and his genial
air.
@By the way" he said. II think this little
girl has forgotten to perform the whole of
her duty. She has not told you my name.
I am DR.. Branksome." I bowed, and he
smiled anew. "Has Miss Stancliffe not told
you oil about my connection with here" he
continued. II see she has not done SO.
Well, I suppose a young lady who finds her.
self i'll Scarborough for the first time in
her life has something better to do than to
tell tales about the old fogies whom she has
known ut the other side Of the world. Eth,
my dear, is that not it!'
She might have been his daughter to
judge by the easy familiarity with which he
pinched her ear as he spoke. Daisy still had
the troubled smile upon her face She had
worn when she last looked ut me. She did
not speak. 1t almost seemed as though she
could not have spoken if she would.
Il see l shall have my own story to tell,
Mr.. Fenton," he continued, in his full, rich
voice. "You are surprised, perhaps, to see
me OH such very friendly terms with Miss
Stancliffe. But you would not be surprised
If you knew that she lived under ray roof for
more than twelve years of her life-from
four to sixteen-and that during all that
time she honestly believed me to be her
father. A strange story, sir. I can see that
is in your mind; but it is a true story also.
So now you understand how it is that if
Daisy has an uncle in Mr.. Mauleverer, she
las a father in me-"
My first feeling On hearing him make this
statement was m Of incredulity. I had
heard her so often speak with loving graft.
tude of her uncle that I felt certain that ii
she had really regarded this new conner as
her father, she would have spoken of him
also. l remembered, too, the trouble that
was manifest on her face when she had told
me on the previous day of the approaching
arrival of her friends. It was in~conceivable,
I thought. that she would have felt this
trouble if she had really entertained q
daughters love for Branksome. But, how.
ever this might be, there was no doubt now
that she was unreservedly under the sway
of his influence. She responded to his
speech with a look of gratitude and affec.
tion, and stood quite passive while his hand
still rested on her arm.
The situation was becoming embarrassing,
I did not know in what words to reply to DR..
Branksome's statement about Daisy. 1 con.
tented myself with a feeble inquiry as tc
whether they were going to join the com
pany on the promenade.
"We are going aboard the yacht for lun.
cheon," replied the doctor. "Miss Stancliffe
has never been aboard the boat yet, and she
is naturally anxious to see it By tho way
Daisy, why should we not ask Mr.. Fentor
to favor us with his companys Idaresay he
has nothing better to do this morning, and 4
he is interested in yachting he will certainly
be pleased with the Golden Hawk"
There is no need to say with what ioyou:
eagerness l responded to tho invitation
What puzzled me, however, was tho way il
which it was received by Daisy. She kni,
her brows for a moment as though trying t.
solve some knotty problem in her own mind
And then her face grew clear again, anf
without a word she went forward by tn,
side of Branksome.
We found that the gig of the yacht wa
waiting for us at the landing stage. Mr.
Mauleverer md his two companions hat
gone on board in one of the ordinary fishinf
boats, leaving the small gig, with its cush
Toned seats and neatly dressed crew, fo
Daisy's accommodation.
There was a pleasant novelty for both o
us in the situation as we sat there on eithe
side of Branksome, who steered the boat
The oars of the four men who were rowing
rose and fell with the precision of clockwork
and the light little craft was quickly urge,
over the placid waters of the bay toward
fhn cponf rry1,o,,o thu ~k1A,1,, 1900 -
full blaz, of the sunshine. The cloud liza,
passed from Daisy's face now. She wa
smiling as brightly as she had been wont t
do during those happy days when We sa
together beside the saloon; but l could nc
avoid a dim consciousness of the fact tina
most of her smiles were given to Branksom
rather than to me.
Never had l seen a more beautiful spet
tacle of its kind than that which I witnesse
when I stepped upon the white deck Of til
yacht. The vessel was of great size-prot
ably of not less than six hundred tons di
placement. She had auxiliary steam power
but the long sweep of her spars, the fin
rake Of her three masts, showed that it WI
to her sail power that she chiefly trustee
Everything on board was in that exquisit
state of cleanliness which is never seen saw
on board of a man-of-war or a ~first-clas
yacht. The decks were as white as a vel
scrubbed kitchen table; the brass of the Dol
pins, the pinnacle, the two c%arronades To-
ward shone in the sunshine like BURNSIDE
gold. So did the gliding on the molding {
the deck houses. SOM luxurious loungin
chairs and soft rugs were scattered about
the stern Of the vessel; while a smart qua,
termaster, i'll proper yacht uniform, kel
watch in the ships waist. Everything W,
in keeping with the wealth of its owner.
Daisy gave a cry of genuine delight whe
she surveyed the deck and gazed up at tt
towering masts and rigging, which rose to
iyiddy height above her. She seemed to pr
off the weight of years in this atmospher
nnd ram, or rather danced along the dec
like a child, till she came to the door Of tt
after house. Then she stopped, raised he
hands in wonder, and called me to her side.
The interior OF this beautiful little roo
was indeed "a sight to see." The walls we,
paneled in old leather of a peculiar shade {
orange, with rich designs in dead gold en-
bossed upon it. Here and there was a tin
niche in which an exquisite bronze statuett
was placed, and now and again the fiat SUI
face of the panels was broken by an o.
Venetian mirror or a silver lamp of antiqr
design. Curtains of some material of del
cate texture hung in graceful folds by tt
side of the windows, the glass of which hu
a subdued tint that harmonized with tt
color of the walls. The furniture of tt
room was in keeping with the decoration
There were cabinets, richly carved, an
couches covered with oriental embroiderie
Chairs. tables, rugs and stove-all gave ev
dence OF a cultivated taste and q boundle:
wealth.
"Did you ever see anything SO lovely
cried Daisy, with all a young girls deligl
in the beauty before her. "Who will u
this room?"
Branksome laughed heartily.
"My DEAR" he said, "every room on boar
is yours-this included. But your boudo