The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1896-05-08
CHAPTER. Nv.
The Cousins.


Sydney Drummond was one of the
most confidential clerks of q large
banking establishment in the City Of
London.
He had been sent to Wexford to
transact some very important bust
ness there with q correspondent Of
the firm in whose service he was en-
ployed.
When the Dreadnought had arrived
at Wexford, Frances O'AIeara, taking
her leave Of Sydney, had again said
to him how rejoiced she knew Sir
Loghlen would be to make the nc
quaintance Of gentleman who had
been SO kindly attentive to the Baro-
nets niece; and, when parting with
Sydney, had extorted from him a sort
of half promise that, before quitting
Ireland he would venture to Sir
Loshlen O'Meara's mansion.
TO Frances herself it appeared in
explicable that she should thus strive
to prolong an acquaintance which
every worldly consideration told her
should be at once dissolved.
But Frances, although, at present,
she had no suspicion of the fact, had
fallen in love with the handsome
young clerk; and not every girl in
love for the first time In her life has
a corner Of her heart to spare foa
worldly considerations.
Sydney's business in Wexford. for
the settlement Of which a month had
been given him by his firm, was con.
cluded, as It happened, In aboHt
couple Of days; and, free so unex-
pectedly, the bankers clerk asked
himself should Ire, dare he, accept
the opportunity which had been Of
fered to him of once again beholdfnx
Frances O'A1eara.
Return at once to England, and see
her no more, his reason loudly said:
hasten. and feast thine eyes upon the
most beauteors image they ever look
ed upon, softly whispered his heart.
The hearts victory was never for a
moment doubtful In the foregoing ar
gument, and reason retired defeated.
and thoroughly ashamed to be so con-
Quered.
Again to behold Frances O'Meara,
to gaze upon her matchless beauty,
to listen to her soft, melodious voice.
would be but to increase the poign-
fancy of that suffering which passion
he could not believe most utterly hope
less had already brought him.
For all that, he lost no time In set
ting forward towards Sir Loghlen's
mansion; engaging a ''car" to take
thither himself, his portmanteau, and
| q small, strong box, which contained
some important documents, numerous
bank bills, and rather considerable
sum In hard cash.
All Of which were the satisfactory
results OF the business matters he
had gone to Wexford to transact, and
| vxyffI vHy1Nf 4,A HnA
their conveyance to his own firm in
4 London.
/! st is my fate!" he muttered to him.
self, when fairly ON his way again to.
wards the lovely Frances. "Go, pool
moth, and hover around the fame
which speedily will consume thy
hearth"
But II, indeed, he could have known
all that fate had prepared for him q,
Sir Loghlen's mansion, in spite Of hi
great love for Frances he had never
crossed its threshold.
4 But poor human creatures are mad.
!. to struggle blindly forward to thei
destiny.
While Sydney is on his way toward,
SIR Loghlen's house, it is necessar,
that we should say few words con
corning the Bnronet and his family.
Left widoWer when verging OF
fifty years Of age, Sir Loghlen hat
pever entertained q thought Of con
tracing second marriage alliance.
Left with an only child, a son, tn,
Baronet's every hope and Joy thel
centered In the little heir to his con
siderable fortune.
Il For young Edwards sake It was
In order that the lad might be pro
vided with companions ap1 pleymatsa