Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-12-29

own mind tnau she and none other was fitted
to grace the visionary halls of his renovated
castle, he watched his opportunity and de-
clared himself. She, woman like coquetted
with him for some time, but at last, unable
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 conservative turn of mind, and &C
custorned 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 a 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 mis- 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 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 a faint, wintry smile, which seemed
mechanical His whole heart seemed CEN
tered in his daughter She became the sole
mistress of the ST. kilda mansion, and her
father idolized her. She seemed to be the
one 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
! MIR. Frettlby for the hand of his daughter
when for the second time fate interposed.
This time 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 Mr..
Oliver Whyte, who had come out from
England few months previously, and
/ brought a letter of introduction to Mir.
| 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
Nf I I1ri iIn1h Inns
| his reading of character. His opinion OF
Whyte was anything but Aattering 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 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 Brians 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
tonishment, 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. In spite OF
all Madge could say, he refused 80 alter his
decision, and Whyte, feeling himself safe,
began to treat Brian with an insolence which
was highly calling to Fitzgersld's proud
nature He called on Whyte at his lodgings,
and after violent quarrel with him had left
the house, vowiug 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 }ove was
returned SO, when Madge added her en-
treaties to Briap'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
ject, and having learnt from his 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 on that same night he met
his death in a hanson cab. He he'd passed
out of the life of both the lovers, and they,
glad that he troubled them no more, never
suspected for a 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
unce Mr.. Frettlby gave dinner party in
honor of his daughters birthday. 1t was
delightful evening, and the wide French win
dows which led on to the veranda were open,
letting in a gentle breeze, blowing with
fresh, salt odor from the ocean. Outside
there was kind of screen of tropical plants,
and through the tangle Of the boughs the
guests, seated at the table, could just see the
waters of the bay glittering like silver in the
pale moonlight Brian was seated opposite
to Madge, and every now and then he caught
glimpse of her bright face behind the great
silver epergne, filled with fruit and flowers,
which stood in the center Of the table. Mark
Frettlby was at the head of the table, and
appeared in very good spirits, for his stern
features were somewhat relaxed, and he
drank more wine than usual The soup had
Just been removed when some one who was
late entered with apologies and took his seat
Some one in this case was Mr.. Felix Rolleston,
oue Of the hest known VOung men in Mel