The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-07-29
ON WHEELS Or EIRE,
BY FITZGERALD NOLLOy,
Author OF slow Game Ho DeadP'
IAN Excellent Knave," "swees is
Revenge" "a Modern Magician"
"Thst Villain Romeo" Sc,
ICopyrsAt 1881, BY tic AusAor,l

kediFiaFa had an engagement 70 alhe
with Myles Nswbury in order that he
might meet Samuel Gubba. 1t was
with considerable interest tho earl
looked forward to seeing the man whom
he trusted would one day be his father
in-law, the worthy merchant, whose
thousands YER to wipe away the debts
on the Redfriars property, and TO per-
nit the present holder OF the title to
enjoy life with q freedom and luxury
such as he had never yet known.
From what Newbury had stated re-
garding the vanity and ambition Of this
individual, Lord RedtriaFs had little
doubt that an alliance with himself
would be eagerly welcomed. The mer-
chant did not know or probably care to
inquire into the chapter or disposition
OF his future son-in-lawj 1t would be
sufficient that his daughter would DO
made q peeresss, that he himself could
claim relationship to an earl.
Redfriars resolved that he would do
everything in his power to promote the
marriage; tlatter, humor, aud cajole
Samuel Gubbs, and make ardent love to
the heirias, but at the same time he
would hold out for his price, knowing
that q few thousands moro or less were
OF little consideration to wealthy mer'
chant, but OF much importance to a
pauper peer.
His conversation with Whyman had
much relieved the earle mind and
frightened his spiritsi for no matter
what bis previous doubts and misGlV-
ings, his dark fears and intangible fore.
bodinga had been, II now seemed ne il
the motive which prompted his broth.
er's suicide must have arisen from
causes solely connected with the de-
ceased. The late earl had lived quietly,
no breath OF scandal had sulliedhis rep.
utation, yet 1t was difficult to know what
may have been under the surface of his
life, what secrets were hidden be-
meath the staid responsibility OF his APP
p~earance.
At the moment when he imagined
himself the most safe, in the hour
when he contemplated marriage with
one he loved and respected, some old
ENHANCEMENT may have risen to bind
the late lord atresh; the consequence OF
some rash intrigue may have threaten.
ed him, jealousy may have menaced
and hatred pursued him, aud to escape
from exposure and shame, and humtIi.
alton he had probably rushed out Of
life. The more the present earl dwelt
on the likelihood OF this theory tho
more he became convinced Of its truth.
II recommended itself to his mind. He
would iain believed a %certrinty, aud no
man experiences difficulty in forcing
himself to accept a conclusion which
gives him pleasure, satisfaction or re-
And relief il certainly gavo Lord Red
friars to think the motives Of the sui.
eide alone concerned the dead man, and
could have no influence on his own
future, no hold upon himself. When
he had thought otherwise and allowed
certain breads to overcome him, he had
been assuredly suffering from melan-
cholia, indigestion or relaxed nerves,
from anything and everything which
leads q mans judgment astray and
forces him to give shape and form to
fancies and fears less tangible in them
selves than shadows.
Soothing his mind with such consid.
e~rations he turned to contemplate his
union with the daughter Of Samuel
Gubbs. The risk he ran would be
small in comparison with tho advau.
tages he might reap by the marriage.
He must play the game boldly II no
would win, and win he must and
should.
OF those who witnessed tho ceremony
which led Stella to consider herself his
wife none but she and Virgil Lechmere
knew him. The house in which 1t had
taken place was not his own, he having
merely hired rooms there q few days
previously. Neither the landlady nor
the servant had any idea who lie really
was, whence he had come, or TO what
place he had departed. He regretted
having asked Virgil Lechmere to be
present, and acknowledged he had
made a mistake in letting him into the
secret. His cousin, IL was true, had uu-
suspectingly accepted and fully believed
the story OF Stella's death, and II was
not probable that she and he would
ever meet again.
Still in order to provide against pos
abilities, Lord Redfriars would havo
been glad to get rid Of the tutor,
and decided that whom op.
portunity arose he would picture
10 Virgil tho advantages which a
residence in Canada offered to young
and clever men, or the glorious pros.
poets which Australia presented to the
penniless and urge him TO emigrate.
The earl felt but little trouble con.
corning Stella, believing that sho would
not willingly cross his path again. She
had loft him in sorrow and humiliation,
rather than in anger aud with no threats
Of revenge She was n who would
quietly submit TO her fate rather than
rise rebelliously against III blaming her.
self for tho part she played, rather than
reproducing him for his deception. II
he understood her rightly she would
seek to hide her grief from the world
rather that resort to publicity though II
might avenge her.
Even II she sought to punish him she
would not know where to follow or to
find him. He had been neither q house.
holder nor a ratepayer, therefore his
name aa o conmoner was not TO BIO
found in any Blue.book or Directory.
Az q stranger 10 London che would DO
unable to recognize that dark and
gloomy stroot, one amidst q Wilderness
OF streets, containing that dull and
droary house, one Of o hundred others
monotonously similar, 10 which she had
been driven IN hor arrival to town.
Even wero II found che would not 70.
coivo any information there concerning
him. II would DO difficult TO trace him
In tho vast desert Of brick and mortar,
for clue she had mono.
with a view 10 future contingencies
he had, even In tho ardor OF those early
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