Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-08-02

II
TO Mark Frettlbyt and that gentleman, hav-
ing taken fancy 10 him, assisted him by
every means In his power. Under Frettlby's
advice Brian bought a station, and, TO his
astonishment, in a few years found himself
growing rich. The Fitzgeral1s had always
been more famous Tor spending than fOE--
saving. and It was an agreeable surprise TO
their latest representative TO find the money
rolling in instead Of out He began TO IN
dulge In castles In the air concerning that
other castle in ireland, With tho barren ncres
and discontented tenants In his minds eye
he saw the old place rise up in all Its pristine
splendor out of Its ruins; he saw the barren
acres well cultivated, and the tenants happy
| and content-he was rather doubtful on
this latter point but, with the rash con
fidence OF eight-and-twenty, determined to do
his best to perform oven the impossible.
| Having built md furnished his castle In the
air, Brian naturally thought of giving it a
mistress, and this time actual appearance
took the place Of vision He fell in love with
Madge Frettlby, and having decided in bis
own mind that she and none other was fitted
to grace the visionary halls of bis renovated
castle, he watched his opportunity and do.
clared himself She, woman like, coquetted
| WIFI lOI bOuIc blHtty uub w IdSUt uHdOS
to Withstand the impetuosity of her Irish
lover, confessed in low voice, with pretty
| smile on her face that she could not live
without him Whereupon- well-lovers be-
ing of q conservative turn of mind, and ac-
customcd to observe the traditional forms Of
wooing, the result can easily be guessed.
Brian hunted all over the jewelers. shops In
Melbourne with love like assiduity, and hav-
ing obtained ring wherein were set some
turquois stones as blue as his own eyes, he
placed it on her slender finger, and at last
felt that his engagement was an accomplished
fact This being satisfactorily arranged, he
next proceeded to interview the father, and
had just screwed his courage up to the awful
ordeal when something occurred which
postponed the interview indefinitely. Mrs
Frettlby was out driving, when the horses
took fright and bolted The coachman and
groom both escaped unhurt, but Mrs. Frettlby
was thrown out and killed instantaneously.
This was the first really great trouble
which had fallen on Mark Frettlby, and he
seemed to be stunned by it Shutting
himself up In his room he refused to see
any one, even his daughter, and appeared at
the funeral with a white and haggard face,
which shocked every one. When everything
was over, and the body Of the late Mrs.
Frettlby was consigned to the earth with all
the pomp and ceremony which money could
give, the bereaved husband rode home and
resumed his old life. But he was never the
same again His face, which had always
been so genial and bright, became stern and
sad He seldom smiled, and when he did it
was faint, wintry smile, which seemed
mechanical His whole heart seemed cen
4. 4 Il. Al. -.
mistress Of the St Kilda mansion, and her
father idolized her. She seemed to be tho
.,ue thing left to him which gave him an in
terest in life, and had It not been for her
bright presence constantly near him, Mark
Frettlby would have wished himself lying
beside his dead wife in the quiet graveyard,
where there is no trouble or care. After
time had elapsed Brian again resolved to ask
Mr. Frettlby for the hand of his daughter
when for the second time fate interposed.
This timo it was a rival suitor who made his
appearance, and Brian's hot Irish temper
rose when he saw another Richmond in the
field The gentleman in question was a Mr..
Oliver Whyte, who had come out from
England a few months previously, and
brought a letter Of introduction to Mr..
Frettlby, who received him Hospitality, as
was his custom, and Whyte soon made him
self perfectly at home in the St Kilda man
sion.
Brian took dislike to the new conner the
first time he saw him, for Mr.. Fitzgerald was
student Of Lavater, and prided himself on
his reading of character. His opinion OF
Whyte was anything but 6attering to that
gentleman, for in spite of his handsome face
and suave manners, both Brian and Madge
felt the same repulsion toward him as they
would have to a snake Mr.. Whyte, how
ever, with true diplomacy, affected not to
notice the cold way in which Madge received
him, and began to pay marked attention to
her, much to Brian's disgust At last he
asked her to be his wife, and notwithstand-
ing her prompt refusal, spoke to Mr.. Frettlby
on the subject Much to the daughters as
constituent, that gentleman consented to
Whyte's paying his addresses to Madge, and
told her that he wished her to consider the
young mans proposal favorably. Inspite of
all Madge could say, he refused to alter his
decision, and Whyte, feeling himself safe,
began to treat Brian with an insolence which
was highly calling to Fitzgeralds proud
nature He called on Whyte at his lodgings,
and after violent quarrel with him had left
the house, vowing to kill Whyte should he
marry Madge Frettlby. Fitzgerald went
alone to Mr. Frettlby that same night, and
had an interview with him. He confessed
that he loved Madge, and that his love was
returned SO, when Madge added her en-
treaties to Brian's, Mr.. Frettlby found him
self unable to Withstand the combined
forces, and gave his consent to their engage
ment Whyte was absent in the country for
the next few days after his stormy interview
with Brian. and it was only on his return
that he learnt that Madgo was engaged to
his rival He saw Mr. Frettlby on the sub
jeet, and having learnt from bis own lips
that such was the case, he left the house at
once, and swore that he would never enter it
again. He little knew how prophetic his
words were, for OIL that same night he met
his death in hanson cab. He had passed
out of the life of both the lovers, and they,
glad that he troubled them no more, never
suspected for moment that the body Of the
unknown man found in Royston's cab was
that Of Oliver Whyte.
About two weeks after Whyte's disappear
anoe Mr.. Frettlby gave a dinner party In
honor Of his daughters birthday. Itwas a
delightful evening, and the wide French win
dows which led on to the veranda were open,
letting In gentle breeze blowing with a
fresh, salt odor from the ocean. Outside
there was kind OF screen of tropical plants,
and through the tangle Of the boughs the
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