The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1896-08-13
CHAPTER XVIII.

OMeara'S own apartments i'll the man
sion; and there the poor old lady SOC
recovered consciousness, but not Sc
renity of mind.
Mrs. Willoughby's first words on her
recovery were to ask for her grandson;
and she was told that he had left the
house, and so she consented to remain
with Frances for awhile, and to relate
to the amazed young girl the strange
story of Sydney's birth and parentage.
And having heard. hope returned to
Frances. Sydney's innocence, she was
certain. would soon be made apparent.
Sir Loghlen would acknowledge his
On, and then
And then, Frances blushed deeply,
and hid her face on Mrs. W~illoughby's
shoulder.
Youth is sanguine, and Mrs. Will
loughby, in her old age, could not now
ehare the hope which had come to
Frances.
And, indeed, there was, as yet, but
little promise Of the happy crisis which
the young and buoyant mind of
Frances had now imagined.
Sir Loghlen was the vid%m of a tor
ture which was every hour increasing.
His heart was yearning to embrace his
son. He would have given worlds to
believe that Sydney was innocent; and,
reason with himeslf how and often as
ne might, arrived always mt the conclu-
sion that his son waS guilty.
'Sir Loghlcn O'Mleara, my father
SydrCy was again and again repeat
Ing to himself, and vainly taxing his
almost frenzied brain for the solution
OF n mystery which appeared to him
as some wild dream.
Sydney had said, IF my father were
here he would believe met" And his
father had been there. and, more stern
", more harshly than all others. had
1tald to him, II do not believe you!'
And he had known that Sydney was
his son!
And as thus the wretched young man
reflected. he Sroaned aloud and prayed
for death TO snatch him from the tor
$ure and the obloquy he had lost forti-
tude longer TO endure.
The father who scOrned him living,
would, perhaps, pity him in his grave!
And would not heaven pardon him
Il he should lay hands on his own life?
And Sir Loghlen would be less cruel
20 his sons memory.
"My life Is destroyed; l have no
longer strength to support this unmer-
ited shame!' Sydney had said to him
self; and then, starting to his feet, ex-
claimed aloud, with a determination to
which despair had wrought him, "Yes,
j will die"
And Tony, who at hat moment came
ocampering into the room, heard the
exclamation, and painting for breath,
said, VERY well, Sydney-only if you
ore going that road, l must travel with
you"
Tony, returning as he had promised,
and at his utmost speed to the baro-
nets mansion, had seized the knocker
and had Numbered at the door till it
was opened by the hall porter.
That fat and elderly gentleman ha0
had rather too much of Tony already,
and so now strove to thrust him back
into the street.
But the contest was unequal and
lasted not long, for Tony. using 4
~s carrying as a weapon OF
~offense. knocked down with 1t the port
" porter. and jumping over his pros
trafe form, ran up the grand staircase
as rapidly as he had before descended
1t.
Brother, brother" demonstrated
Tony. ut would be a cowardly act to
kill yourself; but If You do it so will L.
i will be a coward, too
"But wherefore should you die?
cried Sydney dis~tractedly. us your
life condemned? Are you overwhelm-
ed beneath IN OdiOuS su~spicion-be-
meath an unjust accusation which
nothing cal destroyT'
"Nothing!' demanded Tony: md
then. laughing and crying at the same
time. "Oh, you unGrateful fellow" he
continued. 'you have doubted, then,
my promise to discover the true Grim
~inal-have doubted. while / have been
stirring heaven and earth for your
happiness. and for that poor old grand
mother! And you would kill yourself
at the momen that save you"
"Save me"' echoed Sydney, but in a
tone OF ~incrcdulity.
yes" exclaimed Tony, I'VE shall
have the culprits."
Sydney could not speak: but his eyes
glared the question his lips had not the
power to utter.
81 have enc of the rascalS already
beneath my hands, pursued Tony:
make him tell a different story pres
entity. Look here, sydney"
And Tony placed on the table the
book he had now brought, turned over
its leaves until he came to one which
he had marked. Look here, Sydney
what will the gentleman say when l
show him his name here in Mr.. Spring
ford's sale book ?"
And then placing his finger on the
page, he continued:
That's the name, brotherhood it,
And the name to which Tony was
pointing Sydney read. and recoiled.
terrified, and fixed his bewildered look
dpOn his brother.