The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-04-13

deed, as perfect a knaVe as 1t was pos
sible to find on land or sea.
OF the latter, he was especially fond;
and, combining business with pleasure,
had voyaged here and there with
great profit, both to his health and
pocket.
The peddler had soon understood that
Stanley Claremont was in very uh
easy state of mind-in disagreeable
dilemma of some kind and was think
ing that if he could but find out what
was the matter, he might, perhaps, be
useful tC the gentleman, and the gen
tleman might be profitable to him.
We have said that the ,peddler'S eyes
were fixed on Stanley Claremont; but
we We're wrong; for, just now, but one
OF his small, grey, and cruelty cum
ming eyes We're fixed on Claremont,
While the other was directed to his
wares, by a display of which he was
endeayoring to tempt to a purchase a
few of the passengers who had gath
cred round his pack.
James Frampton had made one Of
that group, which, however, he had
soon left, to accoSt, with friendly pO-
likeness, a young gentleman whom he
had espied thoughtfully walking the
deck.
This young gentleman had fallen
deeply in love, at first sight with the
niece of Sir Loghlen O'Meara, whom
for the first time in his life, he had
encountered on board that vessel in
which they both now were.
He had been earnest but unobtrusive
in his attentions to the young lady,
and had availed himself of every OPP
pOrtunity to converse with her
~ oil will no
easily surniised that the young mans
opportunities had been neither few nor
very far between.
And Frances o. Meara had evinced
anything rather than a diSinclinati0n
for the society of this young and strik-
ingly handsome passenger.
James Frampton, on his part, and
for special reasons, known to himself,
had done his best to promote the init
macy which. had arisen between these
young people-lovers, we dare not at
present call them.
After a few commonplace words
concerning the weather, and so on,
had been exchanged between the old
servant and the passenger he had ac-
cOsted, the former said, you must
suffer me to make you known to my
master, for Sir LoghIen would be de-
lighted to make your acquaintance.
''You are very good said the other;
''but for what reason?'
"Oh, | have a notion you would please
him because-''-he hesitatcd for just
an instant, and then ded,--"because
you are a perfect gentleman
''Indeed, / am Of very humble Or
igin,' returned the young nan.
And that observation seemed great
10 MI No ST IN1.1, fnr
chuckled, looked silly and with very
peculiar expression at the young gen
tleman.
Presently the old man resumed. very
pointedly, Miss Frances will not, /
am certain, in a. y way cOntta1iot the
good opinion / shall give of you to my
master"
And greatly moved, and all olaur
for a moment or two forsaking his
face, the young passenger stammered,
in low tone of voice, Miss O'Mrara
is so amiably indulgent"
"And your conversation has proved
so highly CERTIFYING TO her. said
Frampton, more pointedly even than
before. And added, after a moments
pause, during which he had been keen
ly watching the varying expression of
the young mans face, Il think | may
safely promise you, sir. that you shall
be made acquainted with the BarOnet."
81 should feel myself greatly hon
cured, SIR was the response.
''And Sir Loghlen will be very hap
py," said Frampton. And bowed to
the young passenger, and walked away
muttering to himself softly, yet very
earnestly, Yes, very Lappy-my poor
master will be very happy
Il
spirits In the first place, he had rea-
son to be satisfied with the result of
the mission from which he was now
returning; and next, and, to the worthy
old man. of far greater Importance.
he had, just before coming on board
the vessel. received further and better
news concerning his masters health.
Sir Loghlens physician had written
to say that his patient though still
weak and i'll, was entirely past all
danger.
The young passenger dared not give
credcnce to those most encouraging
words which Sir Loghlen'S confidential
servant had just pronounced. 1t would
be to indulge his heart i'll vain ana
| idle fancies-yery sweet, but very
cruel The daughter of a barOnet, apd
| a wealthy heiress, was not for such
as he; and very wretched was he that
he had not, from the very first mo-
| ment of his meeting with the lovely
and Incompatible Frances O'Mara.
! told himself all that, buJ had suffered
his heart to yield to a charm from
which already he had been suddenly
/ and fatally aroused.
CHAPTER IL
/ honesty Not the PeddIer's Policy